Blues Break Duck - Marlow vs. Ashford Town

The fantastic stand at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground

After visiting Wembley for the Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, I was keen to get back in to non league on Bank Holiday Monday. The game I chose was the Southern League Central Division game between Marlow and Ashford Town. Marlow were back in the Southern League after spending a season in the Hellenic League where they won the Premier Division title. I have a purely playfull dislike for Ashford Town after I saw them beat Tooting And Mitcham 7-1 when I was finding my feet in non league football in London. Neither side had made a blistering start to the league campaign with just the one victory beat the two teams.

Kick off at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground

Ashford take an early lead from the penalty spot. The Marlow defender recklessly dives in and the referee has no option but to point to the spot and the ball is smashed in to the net straight down the middle. Marlow equalise with an effort from the edge of the area which finds the bottom corner of the net. Marlow then take the lead as a free kick from the left hand side is headed home. Ashford nearly equalise but the through ball has a little too much on it and the striker should do a lot better shortly afterwards but he puts effort well over the bar. The end of the first becomes a little feisty in a sign of things to come in the second half. 

Marlow attack in the first half

In the opening stages of the half, both sides are reduced to ten men. The Marlow player did something to the Ashford player (in true Wenger style I didn't actually see what he did) and the Ashford player retaliates. The Marlow player is sent straight off while the Ashford player receives a second yellow. The home side have a great chance to go two up but a heavy touch lets the attacker down. Ashford then begin to create plenty of chances. They poke an effort just wide, hit the outside of the post and the Marlow keeper makes a great save from a one on one situation but they can't find the back of the net. Marlow bend an effort of their own just wide before Ashford have an effort cleared off the line. The home side manage to hold to claim their first win of the season.

An Ashford corner early in the game

Marlow is a delightful place to visit with it's interesting suspension bridge and large park. You have to walk away from the ground to take in the town centre but it is worth it. In the town centre is The George And Dragon and The Chequers which both fairly decent and had plenty of outside seating. The station is about a fifteen minute steady walk from the ground. There are no direct trains from London and you have to get a train from Paddington to Maidenhead and change there. The journey takes just over an hour. The clubhouse at the ground has a couple of ales from the local Rebellion Brewery and there are lots of pieces on the walls from the clubs past.

The programme had lots of information on the Ashford squad and history of the club itself. There are plenty of stats from the league and the other Marlow teams. The tight print deadlines meant there was no match report from the previous match.

Stand on the opposite side to the main stand.