Fielding a mixed squad of players in their line-up this week, Newbury kicked off the match, but took a little time in the initial stages to settle and find their organisation. Marlow had the early pressure without creating a clear cut opening, before Newbury’s midfield three of Leanne Saunders, Zoe Lambden and Lorna Parr, began to find their shape and take more control in the middle of the park.

It was expected to be a fairly even match and this was certainly proved in the first quarter of the game, although Marlow had earned two corners, which Newbury’s defence did well to clear. The first real goal scoring opportunity went to Newbury however on 24 minutes in a very good footballing move, that began when Newbury were defending. Left Back, Lauren Sheldon won the ball deep in her own half and she then played in Ellie Reed who had run into the left hand channel. Her cross found Ruby Oliver in the centre, who’s shot went just wide of the upright.

Just a two minutes later and Newbury had further joy again down the left flank, with both Sheldon and Reed linking up to good effect. Reed’s high cross this time was met by Leanne Creese, but she was unable to get enough power on her header to direct the ball back past the keeper. Reed had her own shooting chance when she received a pinpoint through ball from Leanne Saunders. She elected to take the shot on herself, when perhaps a square ball into Oliver who had advanced in the centre, might have been the better option. Reed’s shot was unfortunately just off target.

Marlow still had plenty of attacking intent of their own and a right wing cross that evaded everyone in the Newbury penalty area came out to a Marlow midfielder, who fired a first time shot back in, which fortunately for Newbury, only hit the base of the left post and fell away to safety. The match by now certainly had a real cup-tie feel to it, with both sides committed and playing some enthralling end to end football.

The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes after another good Newbury move, this time down the right wing, with skipper Leanne Creese’s cross, perfectly met by the head of Ruby Oliver. The Marlow keeper had no chance with a bullet header of that quality and power. One nil to Newbury.

The expectation then from the Newbury bench was that they would go onto win the match, however they were cruelly to suffer a foot injury to key midfielder, Zoe Lambden, just two minutes after taking the lead. It was a 50/50 challenge that Lambden won, but not without sustaining a hard knock. Play resumed and she was able to continue, but it was clear that she was in quite a bit of discomfort.

As Marlow pressed for an equaliser before half time, Newbury’s Sheldon bravely blocked just 5 yards from goal and she too required treatment to her ankle. Newbury were pleased to hear the half time whistle when it came, with their one nil lead still intact and it gave them a chance to tend to those players carrying knocks. With no substitutes to call on, the same 11 Newbury players took to the field again for the second half.

When Newbury failed to retain possession up front, Marlow broke out of defence and tore through a large gap that had appeared in the Newbury midfield. The ball was fed to Marlow’s striker, who found a yard of space and she coolly curled the ball around the Newbury goalkeeper and into the bottom right hand corner. With just 2 minutes played in the second half and Marlow had earned an equaliser, the score now 1-1.

On 55 minutes, Marlow had pressed forward again, with their left winger working the ball to the by-line. She was allowed to cross from there into the near post, where the same Marlow striker had run to collect the cross. She turned and shot in the same movement and although the shot appeared to be going well wide, it took a deflection off a Newbury defender to change the flight of the ball. Newbury’s goalkeeper was unable to react and the ball flew into the right hand corner of the net.

It was a cruel blow for Newbury, who now found themselves behind in the tie for the first time. With more than half an hour remaining, there was still plenty of time and Newbury reacted well, trying to galvanise themselves and carry the attack forward. Lorna Parr was showing great fitness levels and giving an all action, box to box midfield display. There followed a good passage of play for Newbury, which Parr was at the heart of. A second goal though was proving hard to come by for Newbury, with Oliver having one effort ruled out for offside.

In the 70th minute, Marlow should have put the tie to bed, when a breakaway move led to their right winger latching onto a ball over the top of the Newbury defence. She was through one on one with Harkness in the Newbury goal, and she rounded her easily but then blazed high and wide with an open net gaping in front of her. Newbury took heart from that miss and again regrouped and doubled their efforts to push forward in search of an equaliser.

Marlow’s defence remained strong and well organised and it looked as though they would see the game out. But with just 2 minutes of the match remaining, Newbury’s Reed picked up the ball on the left just inside her own half. She rounded one Marlow player and then sent the perfect through pass to Oliver, who had eluded her marker and was clear on goal. She shot across the goalkeeper, but saw her effort just drift agonisingly wide of the far post. And so the score line remained at 2-1, with Newbury Ladies narrowly beaten and now out of the Chairman’s Cup.