Marlow United Football Club

I also asked for a sensible and responsible approach regarding the fitness levels of some players, not sure anyone was listening regarding that as lo and behold Leigh Mason strides out in full kit! But I for one am glad he did as he gave us glimpses of what we can expect ongoing once he gets a few hundred minutes under his belt but for 60 of yesterdays 90 minutes his was a dominating presence, the other 30 was in and out as he fought off bouts of cramp due to his enforced lay off. Leigh’s presence was supplemented by the anticipated return of James Flint and it was like James had never been away scoring two goals and playing a vital role in yesterday’s important victory. One should mention Kyle Bradley our goalkeeper who rarely gets a mention but will play a crucial role in our recovery plan. We were fortunate to have John (Buller) between the sticks but sadly following the South Reading debacle John became part of the collateral damage as he decided he had had enough and moved on. Fortune smiles in different ways and it smiled kindly on us when Kyle came upon our radar. Kyle is Hellenic blooded and is a quality act so a little belated, but nevertheless, welcome to our club Kyle.

So how can three players make such a difference to a team well anyone who knows anything about the game will know it can be massive and with Leigh and James the difference is that they provide quality that links with other quality players in the team such as Ben Filmore, who put in his first real performance of the season yesterday. It takes pressure away from Ollie Flint who will find more space as defenders become aware of the many threats contained within our team. It will inspire Doug Buchanan who has been the lynch pin in midfield throughout darker days. It will definitely bring the best out of Vinnie Cuva who yesterday showed his menace through pace and tenacity. The presence of Kyle in goal will send a surge of confidence throughout our much-maligned defence. It doesn’t stop there however!

I was sat with Jonny Mason on the bench yesterday who as an expectant Father was on standby so couldn’t play but my understanding is that he will be unleashed against Taplow next Saturday, behind me, ever prowling, was a disgruntled Scott Benyon who following his return from injury is still to get some match play! Dan Warner at long last returned from Thailand returns to the squad next Saturday and Matty Letts newly returned and he provided us with 15 minutes of what we can expect from this much under rated player. With a bench of such quality no wonder there is a resurgence of confidence flowing through the veins of the club and it doesn’t end there as we can expect one or maybe even two former ‘stars’ returning home before very long. So what about our much maligned defence? Well yesterday Dan Flint who has effectively stood in for brother Nick who incidentally is another player due to return once he has shaken the viral infection that has caught hold of him, but back to Dan, Dan played his part yesterday at the centre of defence and some would say this is his best position and I for one wouldn’t argue with that! Steve Gabb, the dependable ‘Gabbster’ grew into this match and by the end had returned to form following a few quiet recent matches. Andy Thorne, who I had mentioned a few months ago through this medium. ‘Ange’ fills the left back slot and to be fair it’s the toughest of positions to fill measured against predecessor left backs the club has been blessed with. We have to remember that Ange is still a relatively young player in terms of experience of the higher levels and going forward contributes much to United and defends with resolve, I am convinced given time he will mature into the real deal. Another relative newcomer to the club is our right back Wayne Moore and Wayne has impressed and continues to do so with his quiet, cool and calm manner, never over clever, always safe. Our current back four are now under severe pressure from quality defenders prowling the touchline, but this is good and it’s for them to make themselves ‘undroppable’.

Last week I made an issue out of ‘bleeding blue’ and while all now is resolved and behind us there is also another side to this club and that’s one of humility and understanding. Any player who recognises his deficiencies and is big enough to hold his hands up and apologise to the changing room are always welcome back at this club, holding a grudge is for fools, olive branches bring peace.

Had a good productive conversation with the boss Gary (Wiltshire) last evening and while the conversation of course remains between Chairman and Manager I can reveal that it gave me cause for even more optimism than I had realised.

So the next step? Well one swallow doesn’t make a summer and it now remains to be seen if we can hold on to our returning players. Almost as a footnote I will repeat what I said to a local manager who I know quite well who was a little disgruntled at the thought that we have players available to us who he would give his right arm for and that is all of these players and others out there are our players. When they leave us it is only ever on loan because it doesn’t matter how long they are away from us they will always return home at some stage, they always have, they always will.

So what of the match? Well for our end it was a pleasure to see a United team perform as it did at long last. I recall sitting watching the debacle at South Reading in the freezing cold reflecting on that hot summers afternoon when we took on the might of Bournemouth and beat them, how so far away that felt! Well yesterday fell short of that high in the clubs history but the performance has resurrected hope in that we can return to the levels of performance that some of us became quite acquainted with and if the reaction of our secretary when we scored our fourth goal is anything to go by we may be much closer than we think!

Yes it was a good win over what is a good team. Woodcote have always provided stern opposition. Even when we were flying high we came across Woodcote and they never failed to push us hard but always fairly. Yesterday was highly competitive but fought in the correct manner with some top class officiating by all three officials. I still can’t see how the game merited so many yellow cards though, 8 I believe was the total but it’s the law that’s an ass not the officials!

Commendations to Woodcote for the manner in which they took defeat, Woodcote are hot on the heels of Westwood and would have been eyeing 3 points at Bisham yesterday but I’m thinking that ‘Mach’ their knowledgeable manager would have been aware when he turned up and saw the United line up that the task had become instantly tougher. Nevertheless they took it on the chin with respect and dignity but then I would expect nothing less of a team managed by ‘Mach’.

So a short journey to Taplow next week where we can confirm the end of the beginning? We shall see!