Lauren Hilditch scores against former club Henley as Marlow move 10 points clear

Lauren Hilditch. Muddy Shots Photography

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Marlow Women's first team remain on course for the South Central Women's Premier Division 1 title as well as promotion after claiming a narrow 2-1 win over near neighbours Henley on Saturday.

Lauren Hilditch scored against her former club in the victory as the Reds moved 10 points clear of their closest challengers Oxford 1sts.

It gives the side an all but unassailable lead at the top of the division heading into their final five matches, starting at home to third placed Oxford Hawks 2nds - one of the other teams to have pushed them this season.'

After a week's break, Marlow weren't quite at their flowing best, but they displayed a great determination to win the game. Martha Goodridge went close in the early stages but was denied by a goal line clearance by a Henley defender.

Henley also had their chances, including a penalty corner which Alys Ramm and her defence did well to block, but the breakthrough came when Hilditch, who played for Henley last season, scored following impressive play from Goodridge to play her through on goal.

They held that narrow lead into the second half, but with both teams battling hard, a few green cards were dished out by the umpire. Henley then capitalised on a defensive error which led to a penalty corner, and they slotted home from that to make it 1-1.

Mabel Daw showed her pace with some runs from defence and the visitors grabbed their winner with 15 minutes to play when Bethany Halbard netted her sixth goal of the season, diverting the ball home from a penalty corner.

The women's second team were at home to Chichester 1sts and secured a 2-2 draw thanks to a first half brace from Helena Sykora.

The Reds made a strong start to the match and took a deserved lead when Emma Buxton's pass found Sykora who smashed the ball home from a tight angle.

Her second, an individual reverse stick effort from the top of the D, doubled Marlow's advantage before Chichester halved the deficit with a slick corner routine before half-time.

An even second half encounter ensued, and the visitors drew level in fortunate circumstances when a strike from a corner was charged down, only to loop in just underneath the crossbar.

Other results saw the third team lose 3-2 to Staines 1sts, the 4ths lose 3-2 to Leighton Buzzard 2nds, the 5ths beat Windsor 3rds 5-2 away, the 6ths lose 3-2 to Yateley 2nds and the 7ths defeat Harlow / High Wycombe 3-0 away.

Marlow Men's 1st team travelled to fifth-placed Bournemouth with a depleted squad and couldn’t match their hosts as they went down to a 5-1 defeat.

The Reds went into the game only two points behind their hosts and previous games between the two sides had been close, single goal victories or draws. This match was somewhat different; however, the visitors did get off to a great start when a nice steal in midfield set up a counterattack from which Isaac Maddern calmly finished.

The remainder of the first half was tightly contested, but the hosts managed to get their noses in front with goals from two cheaply conceded corners.

Marlow remained in the contest but didn't take their chances as they fell 3-1 and then 4-1 behind. Bournemouth then put the final nail in their coffin with a fifth goal in a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggests.

Special mention to Ollie Harvey who made his 1st team debut and looked very comfortable at left half, so much so that he was voted man of the match.

The men's 2nd team were also without several regulars, but they came from behind in the second half to claim a creditable 2-2 home draw with Witney.

Captain Dan Field's goalscoring ability was missed by the hosts, however, several young players stepped up and performed admirably.

Phil Cowell and Dave Harding also used all their experience in defence to keep Witney at bay. Not only that, but both also stepped up to score goals from penalty corners to make it 2-1 to the Reds at half-time.

Both goalkeepers were kept busy in the second half, but Witney managed to level the score, while the Reds failed to land a knockout blow as further chances were sent wide or well-saved in the closing stages.

Other results saw the men's 3rds lose 9-1 to Bicester 1sts, the 4ths defeat Amersham & Chalfont 4ths 6-1 away, the 5ths lose 2-0 to Wycombe 3rds, the 6ths defeat Eastcote 6ths 3-0 away and the 7ths beat Wallingford 5ths 4-0.