GOALS from Gary Goodman, Chris Sewell and Dan Strange helped Marlow men pick up their first win of 2019 as they battled to a 3-1 MBBO Regional One victory at Reading 3rds.

Midway through the first half, Sewell stole onto a badly-weighted Reading transfer and created a good attack on their goalkeeper to give captain Goodman a relatively simple finish.

A communication error from the bench let the hosts back in just before half time through a short corner.

A twitchy start to the second half meant the game was in the balance after 50 minutes, but Marlow moved through the gears and Sewell finished creatively on the hour-mark, then Strange bagged the winner with a sublime volley with five minutes to go. Huw Kimber was the hosts’ goalscorer.

Marlow face a tough test against table-topping Maidenhead tomorrow (Saturday, 1.30pm).

In MBBO Regional Two, Lloyd Watters and Dan Bradley were on target for Marlow 2nds, but they went down to a 3-2 defeat at home to Banbury 3rds, for whom Jamie Boardman, Max Grossmith and Ian Reynolds netted.

A Harvey Fraser brace helped Marlow 3rds to a 2-1 victory at West Hampstead 3rds in Division Two, a Matt Williams-Ellis strike proving insufficient for the home side.

Division Five table-toppers Marlow 4ths edged out Oxford 5ths 1-0 thanks to a Leo Pennant strike, while a remarkable double hat-trick from Phil Allen inspired Marlow 5ths to a 13-0 drubbing of Slough Swifts in Division Six. They, too, remain at the top of the table.

In Division Nine, Marlow 6ths reamin second following a 2-0 home win against Banbury 5ths, Will Peacock and Simon Babes on target for the hosts.

The veteran Marlow Strollers also collected victory, overcoming Wallington 3-2 thanks to Bernard Tyler, Ashley Bryant and Jon Elliot strikes.

Ellie Perkin bagged a brace for Amersham & Chalfont ladies as they stunned South League Division 3a table-toppers Oxford Hawks 2nds, her goals coming either side of a Jess Reus effort. Amersham & Chalfont will hope to pick up another three points when they host basement side Banbury tomorrow (Saturday, 1pm).

The ladies had less success on Sunday, as they were knocked out of the National Cup 4-2 at Bishop’s Stortford.

The visitors made a dreadful start as they conceded two goals in the opening five minutes, but a Reus strike gave them hope, albeit they went into the break 3-1 down.

A determined Amersham fightback in the second half saw Reus score again to reduce the deficit , and a barnstorming finish saw them fighting for the equaliser only to be hit on the break in the dying minutes.

Amersham & Chiltern 2nds boosted their Trysport Three Counties League Premier Division One survival hopes with a 2-1 home win against second-bottom Oxford 3rds, Holly Levine and Aimee Stapleton on the scoresheet.

In Division One, Amersham 3rds slipped to third-bottom following their 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Oxford 4ths – Kalli Georgellis and Olivia Leese with the goals – while the 4ths overcame Marlow 5ths 3-1 in Division Three with Gracie Brown, Natalie Willis and Mhairi Gooch all scoring.