After following up their disappointing 0-0 opening day draw at Barking with home wins over Windsor and Eton (3-1) and Basingstoke Town (1-0) in their next 2 games, The Ducks made it 3 in a row to hit top spot after this win over their county neighbours at Oak Tree Road.
It was the proverbial game of 2 halves after a turgid first 45 minutes in which neither side managed to play much football on a superb pitch and Guildford referee Mr M Stobbart's whistle punctuating the night air at regular intervals.
The visitors failed to test Marlow keeper Steve Ellis in the first half and indeed it was the hosts who looked the more likely to score with the speed of future Duck John Caesar providing problems for the United defence
United eventually took the lead in the 51st minute when sub Brendan Phillips (on in the first half for the injured Steve Ketteridge) sent a defence splitting pass into the path of the speeding Owen Wright out on the right, who took the ball in his stride before calmly planting his shot past the advancing Ellis.
Just 2 minutes later it was 2-0 when a flick on in the area by United's Graham Reed caused confusion in the Marlow defence and after Wight's initial effort had been blocked by Ellis, Wright pounced to score from close range.
It was 3-0 in the 84th minute when Rob Smith beat Andy Harman on the left before crossing low for Simon Mason to bundle the ball over the line from close range.
A minute later the hosts had the chance to pull a goal back when Kevin Day brought down Marlow striker Mark Watkins in the box and referee Stobbart had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. However, Ducks keeper Tim Garner ensured a clean sheet by springing across to his right to turn Kevin Stone's strongly hit spot kick past the post for a corner.
David Figg
