A huge midweek crowd gathered down Pound Lane to come watch the Mens 1's test themselves against the Olympic bronze medal winning GB Women's Hockey team.

A daunting 20+ women squad as expected came out firing and and pressing the men hard. For any Marlow player thinking this was going to be a stroll in the park, they were wrong. Despite the high press, Marlow played with confidence transferring the ball hard and fast, and popping the ball in and around midfield negating the GB press. Both teams threatened but it was an Ed Davidson drag flick top left from a short corner which broke the deadlock. Marlow continued to threaten and on the stroke of half time Ed Kelleher rifled a first time shot from the top of the circle wrong footing the keeper. 2-0 Marlow.

In the second half, the GB ladies rolled out a fresh squad and they came out hard, but Marlow were equal to it, and a swift counter attacking move bought a 2 on 1 with the keeper and Alex Land was on hand to slide in and score in the open net.
Back came GB pushing more players forward and continuing to threaten. Alex Danson show cased her class when she came of the bench and fired a warning shot inches past the post, proving that the ladies were still very much in the game. Marlow took note, defended stoutly, but despite both Pete and Brian tight up her arse Danson still managed to get another shot off in the circle but this time she found the bottom corner. World class finish!

It was young Jack Clee who popped up with the spectacular finish to a great game and stole the show, as he picked up the ball on the right hand base line, ignored all the players on the penalty spot (and any hockey textbook/coaching manual) and fired the put the ball into the rigging from the tightest of angles, the ball whistling past the keepers ears and not giving her chance. Cue the fireworks!

It was a great game thoroughly which was great to play in and by all accounts equally enjoyable to watch. Thanks for all that came down, and hope that display was good as any of the fireworks displays you missed out on. We keep our fingers crossed for a return fixture in the new year, so stay tuned folks..

Dave Harding (Captain)