AFC Marlow hosted Totteridge Albion this morning at Gossmore Recreation Ground. Marlow. Facing a strong Totteridge outfit, who also went into the game unbeaten in the league.
Totteridge started the better team and were unlucky not to take the lead when Callun Akerman whilst diving at the strikers feet, spilled the ball which the forward rolled into the net, this is where the referee made the first of many mistakes by disallowing the goal after seeing the forward kick the ball out of the keepers hands from 60 YARDS away. J.T was then booked for showing frustration at the poor quality of refereeing that was being witnessed by supporter's as well as by the player's.
James Turner then grabbed his 50th goal for AFC Marlow when he reacted quickest to head Adam Brooks cross from the right hand side into the back of the net. The first half pretty much consisted in both goalkeepers pulling off a number of top quality saves and bad refereeing, which meant Marlow went into the break with a goal advantage.
H/T: AFC Marlow 1-0 Totteridge Albion.
The second half started in pretty much the same tempo of football with more and more player's showing signs of frustration. With an hour gone,Billy Mason doubled our lead when the centre midfielder collected Dean Oxlade's pass and after turning onto his stronger foot smashed a shot into the back of the net from the edge of the box which was adjudged to have gone through J.T's legs on the way in.
Totteridge then pulled themselves back into the game within minutes. Joe Saunders was then booked for time wasting after walking to collect a ball a Totteridge player had kick away due to an injury to one of our player's. The referee whilst carding Saunders commented "He's alright, he'll get up" after the player clearly wasn't. Jonny Watts then won a free kick just outside the box and after placing the ball down himself, whipped it over the wall and after crashing against the bar dropped for Jamie Piekielniak to head home our third.
Then came the most embarrassing moment of the game. As a kid you are taught not to argue with the referee as they won't change their mind! Well not any more, AFC Marlow's Goalkeeper,Callun Akerman rushed out to the edge of the box and with a perfectly timed challenge played the ball off the attacker's leg and out of play for either a throw or a goal kick. Whilst the Totteridge player laid injured the referee, after a good 10-15 seconds, realised that our linesman had signalled for an offside incident in the build up and awarded us an offside only to then completely change his mind and award Totteridge a penalty for a foul made by our keeper. Last man? Goalscoring opportunity? Surely a straight red........NO!!! Thankfully it was only yellow. The Totteridge striker then blazed his shot over the bar and minutes later missed another golden opportunity. It finished 3-1 to AFC Marlow.
F/T: AFC Marlow 3-1 Totteridge Albion.
Man of the match today was awarded to Adam Brooks closely followed by Callun Akerman.
