Report by Jools Thomas

The early signs were not great for the Moles as they showed their usual shyness in front of goal before predictably falling behind. However, unlike in recent weeks, FC continued to plug away and were rewarded with three goals of good quality to send their supporters home happy.

Ty Deacon showed everyone what he was capable of as early as the second minute with a strike that was just pushed to safety by keeper Simon Grant. Ty was then at again with a point blank shot that Grant again was equal to before the Marlow keeper flicked the ball away from the onrushing Brian Haule.
Brian hit another shot just wide of the post before Marlow threatened with Anthony Ball cutting out a dangerous right field cross. As has happened so often at the SRD Stadium this term, the away team took the lead without too much effort when on 19 minutes, Allen Bossman snatched at the ball from perhaps three yards giving Jenkins no chance. Luckily this lead lasted just a few minutes. Kieron Schmidt played in Shayne Almond who turned and crashed the ball home from a few yards much to the delight of his teammates.

Almond then had a half chance which the keeper just managed to hold on to and this was followed soon afterwards by a fierce Schmidt effort, which just cleared the far post with the keeper scrambling across his area. Junaid Bell and Chris Ovenden might have had a little more luck on another day to regain the lead for Marlow but it was FC captain Ben Stevens who had the best chance in those closing first half minutes, with a sliding shot which just cleared the post.

FC took the lead just two minutes into the second half. Shayne Almond cleverly attacked down the left, drew the keeper from his goal and passed to partner Ty Deacon who had just to sidefoot the ball into an empty net. Ty was on form by now. His effort on 62 minutes was tipped around the post. Jordan Jenkins was also in the hunt for a goal and the big defender was unlucky with a clipped header that just grazed an opponent’s head before flying to safety.

Of course, the home fans had a right to be nervous after recent performances and therefore it was with great relief that Deacon grabbed his second of the match and FC’ third with 18 minutes to play. Jeanmal Prosper’s run on goal brought out a great save from Grant. There was little the Marlow keeper could do about the follow up however as Deacon hit the rebound into an unguarded goal. It was nothing less than FC deserved for their hard work and despite a few late scares, the referee blew his whistle to a few handbags from the visitors but more importantly cheers and applause from FC fans who could finally celebrate a league victory.