This wasn't quite the message we wanted to send to Marlow, last night. A loud "we're coming for you", suddenly disappeared to the mosquito-hum of "we're still here", irritatingly.
The first half went, pretty much, to script though. Despite a slow start, which invited Badshot Lea to have a couple of good shots, we soon took advantage of tired legs and looked to blow the opposition away.
On 9 minutes, Ibz flicked on a corner and found Travis who did enough to get the ball over the line. One goal in 9 minutes and we were on our way needed to get the 9-10 goals needed to make the goal difference with Marlow remotely interesting.
On 24 minutes, Tyler Cox (who had dazzled defenders down our left wing) made space for himself and curled his shot through the hands of the diving 'keeper to make it 2-0. Three minutes later it was 3-0, when Beanie sent in a freekick and in it went. Ibz tried to claim he got a touch but "snicko" was inconclusive. A goal every 9 minutes… hold on…
Into half time where the Badshot Lea players were no doubt given talking to and, seemingly, a blood transfusion as they came out completely revitalised. We appeared to humour them by letting them have their fun, possibly believing they were never going to score, until the ref awarded a soft penalty, and it was 3-1.
We did try to rally, and perhaps we could have settled if the ref had seen an obvious pull on Tyler Cox which would have awarded us a free kick and let us compose ourselves… but it wasn't and within one or two minutes they made it 3-2. A cross from the left found an unmarked man and slotted it into an unguarded net.
This was worrying. Another substitution to try and control the game, which worked but there was blood in the water and Badshot Lea were up for it. They won a freekick about 40 yards out, sent on a unprepared sub, and then sent the ball too long and out for a goal kick which brought about the end of the game and a much needed three points. Marlow are still very much in charge of their destiny, but have a tricky away game at South Park this Saturday…