Marlow surge to the top of the table (From Bucks Free Press)

Blues smash Abingdon for eight

9:29am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Sport

MARLOW continued their charge to the top of the Hellenic Premier League after they recorded their biggest win of the season, 8-1.

The Blues hosted 3rd from bottom Abingdon Town, writes Sam Goold Knibbs, a side who has lost their four games and have failed to get a grip on the league so far with only one win in eight.

Poor defensive performances have plagued many teams in this division, but the visitors struggled to gain a footing in the midfield which gave Marlow’s new signing, Simieon Howell from Abingdon United, an easy debut as he partnered Richard Witt in the centre.

The pairing where able to dictate in the middle and allowed Marlow to go on the offensive straight from start - the debut centre-midfielder played a big part in the first goal in less than 10 minutes.

A fast swinging free-kick from Ben Gladwin deep in to the box was almost scooped up by Town’s keeper Rob Hamblin, but pressure from Howell caused a mistake and the ball to land to the feet of Captin Danny Lingwood for a simple tap in.

Abingdon failed to show any resistance as the home-side were rampant.

Four minutes later Marlow doubled their lead when Marcus Mealing disposed right-back Ben Taylor to come in off the corner and lob the keeper from a tight angle in a moment of individual magic.

The visiting strikers were kept quiet as the back-four swept up any through balls. Alex Salmon got a blooded nose for his efforts which stopped play for 5 minutes. However, towards the end of the first-half, opposition forward Tom Larman pulled one back as he crept in behind the centre- backs to receive a pass and lob a rushing Iain McCulley.

Mark Bartley’s side continued their onslaught straight from the start of the second-half as Mealing netted his second of the game when he sliced it past a helpless goalkeeper.

Mealing had his chance to get his hat-trick moments later when he released a half-volley, but was denied by the under-fire keeper and a spectacular save. Hamblin was kept very busy throughout the second-half as Town’s defence failed to deal with an in-form Marlow.

But the the keeper’s efforts were dashed when Richard Witt gained possession in the middle of the park, sprint past the defence, and smash the ball into the near corner.

Marlow threw everything they had at a stuttering Abingdon when Mealing claimed his third of the game - side stepping the keeper to pass into an open goal.

Davies found his way on to the score sheet for the Blues when he scored the sixth and seventh with a header and low driven strike respectively.

The striker was given a chance for his third when he was brought down in the box by the keeper, only to be thwarted by Hamblin.

But the Blues weren’t finished. Substitute Seve Mayberry, who had came on for Mealing, finished the scoring when he slotted it passed the keeper for his first of the game in the last ten minutes.

Unfortunately, Hamblin had to sit out the last five minutes with a sprained arm when he saved a well hit shot from Gladwin.

The match left fans in high spirits and allowed manager Bartley to reflect on job well done.

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