Just like old times....

Marlow Royals.... an opposition that always makes for a good football match. They were also promoted this season & deservedly so....

Under 16’s – Division 2

Hale Leys Youth 1 – Marlow Royals 1

Hale Leys Youth were held to a draw at home yesterday, (Sunday), against former Division 3 rivals, Marlow Royals. In another afternoon kick off, the start belonged to the visitors. Making play on goal in the first minute; forwards Dean Bonwick & Ben Lutterman were keen to open the scoring. The strike was lofted over the crossbar & Leys had a reprieve. The Royals continued to apply pressure on the home midfield & defence for the next 5 minutes.
Then Hale Leys got a their first real chance, Luca Forchione just inside Marlow’s 18yd box was closed in, touching the ball out right to Pat Hurst who despatched it at goal. Sadly, like the previous Marlow attempt, it was high.
The visitors were awarded a free kick from midway inside the Leys half. The delivery was accurate & found a strikers head. The touch in at goal was palmed away by keeper Gary Bidgway. A second Royals free kick was awarded in the 10th minute, this time just inside their own half on the left wing. Delivered by Ben North, the incoming ball cleared the wall & glanced the head of defence James Marsh & ricocheted over the reach of Bidgway to put the visitors ahead.
A few minutes spent settling themselves & Leys were starting to switch on. Chris Hawes taking a free kick from a good position that left Royals keeper Ollie Atkins only able to block but not pickup the ball. Without sufficient backup in the box Leys weren’t able to capitalise on the loose ball.
Just over midway through the period & two Hale Leys corners in quick succession gave the home side their opportunity. Pat Hurst delivering & with Atkins out-stretched the ball passed between his hands & Forchione positioned almost right behind him turned it into the net.
The Leys morale lifted they toughened up in all areas & started to tip the balance of play back in their favour. Bidgway giving a long goal kick that Forchione took up the pitch, the blast-strike at goal was gallantly blocked & sent away by Atkins.

The second half & Marlow managed to battle their way up to the edge of the area, James Marsh standing his ground against the striker put sufficient pressure on to force a poor cross that Bidgway had no trouble in collecting.
Hale Leys Simon Dunn also managed to get a break & finding space poked a cheeky shot at goal but the score remained unchanged.
The rest of the game descended into a stalemate, with both sides having played hard for the previous 55 minutes; no one was able to break the deadlock. The final score reflected a fair representation of the game.

So unlike previous encounters neither side managed to steal a last minute winner, so over the meetings we've had thats all three results covered; a loss, a win & now a draw!!

As a final note
On Saturday afternoon I managed to get to Aylesbury Vale FC to watch the recent leg of the FA Cup preliminary rounds. Drawn against Gosport Borough, Vale were to be the underdogs; but with 'dogged' determination held the visitors to a draw. Good Luck for the squad, who are travelling to Hampshire tonight for the replay.