Ladies exit league cup

Two goals in three minutes at the close of the first half settled this league up tie and while Marlow were deserved winners in terms of play there was little to choose between the teams in terms of open play.

The opening goal went to Marlow’s Abi Canvin on eight minutes as United lost possession in their opponents half and Canvin punished the home team on the counter attack running from just inside Woodley’s half to slot past Emily Sherwood.

The lead was short lived when United’s player of the match Danielle Perryman fired a shot from distance that hit the Marlow cross bar allowing Jess Grimmett to control at short range to level of the upright after fourteen minutes. United built on this with Ellen Surtees a constant threat on the right flank and putting in good crosses which Woodley failed to capitalise on with the best effort headed goal wards by Morgan Merryweather and cleared on twenty minutes.

A minute later Rhea James on another Marlow counter attack saw her cross come shot from distance go other Sherwood to restore the visitors lead. Undeterred United kept the pressure on Marlow playing with tempo and being positive in getting the ball forward but the best effort was Holly Wilkins shot from distance after thirty seven minutes, shortly after a full length save from Sherwood.

However, the game swung the visitors way in later stages of the half when left back Kate Hardie was substituted due to injury and two corners saw the latter taken short and the cross to the far post allowed Natalie Barrette to head home with three minutes of the half remaining. This was followed by Grainne McNally scoring a fourth when she was left unmarked to slot past Sherwood three minutes later on the stroke of half time.

Buoyed by this lead Marlow started the second half the stronger of the two teams with Canvin shooting wide on forty eight minutes. With Untied showing determination led by Perryman and Gemma Bloor they started to take the game to Marlow but the closest they came to reducing the deficit was Grimmett shaving the cross bar. With ten minutes remaining Sherwood saved well from Claire Rogers before good play saw Canvin score her second with four minutes remaining.