Mill Hill 4 - 5 Marlow After last week's dismal capitulation against Abingdon, Mill Hill had a double motivation for earning a result against a well-drilled Marlow team: ending a two-game losing run and avenging their only thrashing of the season, a 7-2 defeat in the corresponding away fixture.

The omens were good. Stand in captain Craig McIntyre (two games, two defeats) absented himself for the return of Pete Lazlett, the sun shone, and the second team won.

Before the match Pete reminded the team to start badly, and with a little help from the umpires, Marlow were quickly ahead through a short corner. They scored the last goal too, with just seconds left on the clock to consign the home side to another defeat. Although Mill Hill were briefly ahead, they didn't really deserve a victory and for the second time in three weeks, they threw away a hard-fought comeback by easing off in the final minutes.

The good news for the team was that Ryan Sclanders, stung by criticism of recent performances, like the prodigal son, finally found his way back to goal. There was some talk of slaughtering the fatted calf but the second team are short enough of players as it is.

Sclanders, often isolated up front and faced with four defenders, nevertheless managed to wriggle free, showing signs of his pre-Christmas form interspersed with patches of sheer malcoordination, made many more chances.

Both teams had shots that stuck the metalwork and both had cause to complain about the umpiring: the home team were awarded a fifth goal only to be denied after Marlow objections prompted the second umpire to intervene.

Despite some good hockey, Mill Hill are clearly lacking the passion and fitness to compete against the division's best teams, but as Ryan noted "we play for fun." And, on the bright side, we're the top scoring side.