Hometown boy Marlow pleased with the mix at Desborough

Desborough Town assistant-manager Danny Marlow believes a good mix of experience and youth has been key to their success in the ChromaSport & Trophies Premier Division this season.
Desborough Town assistant-boss Danny Marlow and manager Chris BradshawDesborough Town assistant-boss Danny Marlow and manager Chris Bradshaw
Desborough Town assistant-boss Danny Marlow and manager Chris Bradshaw

Ar Tarn sit in third place in the table and are still in two knockout competitions after a fine first half of the campaign at the Waterworks Field.

Marlow, who previously played for the club, has been working alongside boss Chris Bradshaw and is delighted by the way things have gone so far.

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“When I first got involved during last season, it was obvious we needed some experience and we were able to bring in the likes of Jason Turner and Dan Grainger,” Marlow said.

“We have had some young players coming through and there are a couple doing very well at the moment. It’s a good mix and that’s what you need.

“Everyone knows their job and what they are expected to do and I am enjoying being part of it. This is my hometown team and to be over halfway through the season and to have only lost three games in 23 is good going.

“In the past, Desborough have got to this stage of the season and have been left with nothing to play for.

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“But we are third in the league, we are in the quarter-finals of the UCL Cup and the semi-finals of the NFA Hillier Cup so we have plenty to look forward to.”

Desborough were denied another win last weekend as a last-gasp goal earned Newport Pagnell Town a 1-1 draw after Merson Styles’ late free-kick looked like it would be enough for Ar Tarn.

They host Wisbech Town this weekend and Marlow insists the players are not fazed by any challenge these days.

“We are in a situation now where we don’t have to fear anyone,” he added.

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“We have been able to bounce back from our setbacks and since we lost to Yaxley, we have had two wins and the draw last weekend.

“We do have a few knocks and a couple of suspensions for the Wisbech game but every time we have asked players to step up, they have done it and I am sure they will again.”

Jim Scott knows his Rothwell Corinthians side face a big challenge this weekend.

Corinthians have the unenviable task of heading to UCL Premier Division leaders Peterborough Sports, who will be chasing a 21st win of the season.

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Corinthians go into the clash on the back of a 5-1 home defeat to second-placed Eynesbury Rovers last Saturday.

Sports are expected by most to go on and win the title this season and while joint-boss Scott insists he isn’t about to start complaining about the difference in resources available to the two clubs, he believes this is the time of year when it begins to show.

“The conditions were poor last weekend and the pitch cut up but I think we have to be realistic, we were down to the bare bones and we are struggling with injuries,” Scott said.

“This is the time of year where the teams with the budgets come to the fore and it’s tough for us when we aren’t at full-strength. But every club will go through that at some stage.

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“I am certainly not going to moan about Peterborough Sports’ budget or anything like that, indeed we have been to teams who also have a budget who I have heard complain about Peterborough’s!

“I am not going to complain, it’s their investment and it’s paying off but it is obviously hard for clubs like us when we play them.

“But we see it as a challenge. We will go there and get on with it.”

Wellingborough Town have some work to do before they take on bottom side Huntingdon Town at the Dog & Duck tomorrow after assistant-manager Stuart Goosey branded their display in Tuesday’s 5-1 home defeat to ON Chenecks as “an absolute shambles”.

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The Doughboys are now without a win in nine UCL Premier Division matches and Goosey didn’t mix his words after the heavy midweek loss.

“It was an absolute shambles, to say we didn’t turn up is the polite way of putting it,” he said.

“It was shocking, a very, very poor performance.

“It wasn’t too bad in the first half and then the floodlights failed before half-time but I can’t even blame it on that.

“We may as well have stayed in the dressing-room at the break but fair play to Chenecks because they battled it and wanted it more.

“It leaves us with a huge game on Saturday and we have got to bounce back and boost the confidence with three points.”

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