MARLOW FC have plenty of reasons to feel a little smug this week – apart from making it seven league games unbeaten to consolidate their position on top of the Hellenic Premier League they also had the satisfaction of silencing some bitter supporters.

On Saturday manager Mark Bartley and eight of his 11 starters went back to Reading, the club they left en masse in the summer.

It was one of those games no one wants to lose.

Bartley said: “It was a tricky one. There was quite a bit of familiarity there going back to my old club, and it was the same for a few of the players too.”

They didn’t get the warmest reception, but a 1-0 victory thanks to Dave Stevens’ winner was the perfect reposte.

Bartley said: “I’d say it was more than satisfaction, I was delighted.

“Some of their supporters behind the goal targeted a few of their players with their songs.

“But the best way to deal with those sorts of people is to get the right result and go away with three points, leaving them behind to think about it.”

A 1-1 draw at Ascot on Tuesday might have been two points dropped, but with their closest rivals both losing it turned out to be another good result.

Marlow, unbeaten in the league now since September 1, go to Wokingham in the FA Vase on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Flackwell Heath bounced back from a 3-2 defeat to Watnage with a 6-0 win over Reading on Tuesday and Thame United enjoyed wins over Oxford and Witney.