OCFC 1 - Marlow 0

The first day of the New Year saw Court Place Farm passed fit after the recent monsoons for the visit of Marlow who included two ex-City favourites in their squad: Jack Smillie and Colin Simpson.
The first half was really a rather unremarkable affair. Marlow started brightly with Simpson’s flicks-on finding players in space, and top-scorer Jermaine Roche looking lively, but the game soon seemed to become somewhat shapeless and lacking in excitement for the reasonably-sized holiday crowd.
After 28 minutes a challenge by Lewis Craker on Roche had the referee pointing to the spot and, after the now seemingly obligatory protestations had been waved aside, Colin Simpson stepped up to the mark and rather softly struck the ball fairly centrally giving Kieron Drake no problem in making a comfortable save.
Jeff Lamb pulled up with an injury for the visitors and was replaced by Johnny Gray, and almost immediately City’s best chance of the half came when Marlow’s keeper Michael Watkins and a defender missed clearing the slippery ball from a corner but no one in Blue could quite provide the finishing touch.
City lost the influential Mark Jones with ten minutes of the half remaining when he mis-hit a shot on the edge of the area and immediately went to ground with what looked like a hamstring injury: Alex Stewart replaced him. Lee Rendell looked to have picked up a worrying knock a few minutes later and was off the pitch for treatment for a few minutes, but was able to run off the injury.
Marlow’s Jack Jeffries found himself in space just on the break but his hurried shot didn’t trouble Drake who was having a very sound game in the City goal.

HALF-TIME: City 0-0 Marlow

The second half was an altogether more lively affair with City producing several goal-worthy chances and Marlow looking capable of snatching a goal on the break.
Anthony Alleyne set the tone for the half early on when his pace took him clear of his marker but the ball got a little ahead of him and Watkins, who was quick around the area all afternoon, managed to claim the ball. Stewart shot just high, and a stinging shot from Billy Beechers brought a good parry from Watkins. In between these chances Colin Simpson put in a lob from distance that landed on the top of the net and Roche, left all alone in the penalty area, had Marlow’s best chance of the half but was denied by a timely last-ditch block by Gavin Lane. At the start of the last quarter City had four chances to edge ahead, but without success: firstly a Stewart flick from a corner saw Billy Beechers crash a shot off the underside of the bar; then Beechers was put through on goal but Watkins smothered his shot; Stewart prodded the ball just wide after an incisive run into the box by Rendell; and Alex Stewart again fired just high after Adam Durrant had fought his way to the goal-line and pulled the ball back to around the penalty spot. Then, with three minutes left of normal time and it looking as though stalemate would be the final outcome, the ball was cleared from the Marlow area to Adam Durrant and his long-range left-footed shot curled over Watkins and just inside the angle of bar and post. Two minutes into injury time City could have stretched their lead when Billy Beechers was again released, but Watkins was quick off his line to make a sharp save.

So, on the second-half display, a deserved three points to take the Blues to within three points of the play-off places. Good solid performances in most positions today, but let’s hope Mark Jones’ injury is not a long-term problem, and that Ray Spence will be at his goal-hungry best when Beechers’ loan period finishes.

FULL-TIME: Oxford City 1-0 Marlow

City: Drake, Lane, Rendell, Avery, Craker, Malone, Jones (Stewart 37), Merritt, Alleyne (Keen 70), Beechers, Durrant.
Marlow: Watkins, Webb, Neptune (Smillie 77), Herbert, Beale, Floyd, Lamb (Gray 31), Jeffries, Simpson (Harman 63), Roche, Flint.

Attendance: 163
Reporter: ChrisB