City travelled to the Alfred Davis Ground in Marlow on Saturday and despite playing well, the lack of a cutting edge in attack resulted in several chances not being taken and eventually they were punished by two clinical finishes by the home side. The side were missing the expereince of Stuart Husey and James Wilson.
City started strongly and penned Marlow in their own half for the first ten minutes, Nathan Lynch, Dave Allen and James Davis all managed shots but none were on target. In almost their first attack Marlow scored, Paul Coyne pumped the ball upfield and Jermaine Roche controlled it well and drilled the shot past Clint Davies from the edge of the penalty area.
The goal gave Marlow the boost they needed and they piled on the pressure, hitting the side netting and then putting a shot just over the bar. At the other end Lynch elected to shot when a pass to the unmarked Allen seemed the better option and the shot was saved. Two minutes before half time City suffered a blow when Scott Gillham was taken off after a knock to the head after playing well and was replaced by new signing Gavin Thomas. As the half ended Lynch forced a corner but the kick was cleared.
Manager Andy Leader replaced Davis with another new signing, Richard Gregory, early in the second half. Marlow had Chris Elsegood sent off in the 562nd minute for two yellow cards and this gave City the chance to get back into the game and they dominated the last half an hour yet managed to concede another goal!
Chris Ellliott came off in the 55th minute to be replaced by Aaron Parfitt and his attacking combination with Gregory bodes well for the future, both are quick and accurate with their passing. Just when City were getting into their stride they were caught on the break and Daniel Stone put Marlow two-up with a fine individual strike.
City now piled forward, Gregory saw a shot kicked off the line and Matt Bowler put a header over the bar. Marlow’s keeper Kieron Drake kept his side in the game with two brilliant saves in a matter of seconds. He smothered a goal-bound shot from Allan and Parfitt picked up the rebound to slam home but somehow the keeper got off the ground to beat the ball away.
This Saturday City are at home to Taunton Town, kick off 3.00p.m.
City: Clint Davies, Scott Gilham, Adam lang, Matt Bowler, Steve Llewellyn, Chris Elliott, Dave Allen, Nathan Lynch, James Davis and Sam Lockyer, Substitutes, Garteh Thomas, Paul Taplin, Aaron Parfitt, Tom Riddell, Richard Gregory.
