09:35AM, Thursday 04 January 2018
MARLOW were undone by a ‘crazy 10 minute spell’ as they slipped to a 4-2 defeat at Ashford Town on Tuesday.
The Blues, who’ve recently seen players leave the club after the playing budget was slashed by 50 per cent, matched their hosts for long periods, but conceded four times in 10 minutes to hand over the points.
Charlie Barton nodded the visitors in front, but strikes from Alex Fisher, Daniel Fleming, James Cottee and Josh Francis meant that a positive festive period ended on a rather sour note. Allen Bossman grabbed a goal back late on but the Blues didn’t quite have enough about them to rescue a draw.
Manager Mark Bartley is operating with one hand tied behind his back after the Marlow board made what they called a ‘prudent’ decision to cut the playing budget. Jordan Brown, Marcus Mealing and Ryan Wharton have all departed Oak Tree Road, while several ‘unsettling’ seven day approaches have been made for other players, who may or may not still leave the club.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Uxbridge was in Bartley’s words ‘a superb effort’, and, although the club are starting to look over their shoulders at the clubs below them that could reel them in, the manager is confident he has enough quality at his disposal to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
“It’s been a very unsettling time,” said Bartley. “Marcus Mealing, Jordan Brown and Ryan Wharton have all left, and they were part of the starting XI. We’ve had offers come in for other players, which I’ve had to talk to them about, and it’s been unsettling for them too. Those things might have affected their performances a little.
“But the win over Arlesey (before Christmas) was an important one, because we were looking over our shoulders wondering which sides might be capable of making a run. You wonder about which sides could catch you, but we won that game even though we had nine men on at the end.
“We were then the better side in Saturday’s draw against Uxbridge, so that’s really positive.
“Last night (Tuesday), I think we were pretty good value for our half-time lead, but we had a crazy 10 minute spell where we conceded four times and lost a bit of composure.”
Marlow face a trip to leaders Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday before welcoming promotion chasing Moneyfields to Oak Tree Road on Tuesday. Bartley admitted both games would be tough, but he believes his players can get something from both clashes.
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