Marlow awarded Team of the Month prize

9:08am Saturday 7th January 2006

MARLOW have been named Team of the Month after stringing together a six-game unbeaten run through December.

The sequence has taken them up to fifth in Southern League Division One West and manager Kevin Stone credits his players first and foremost.

He said: "We don't have the budget to go out and get players every month.

"We have to work with what we've got so our success primarily is down to hard work. You can talk until you're blue in the face but if the players don't want to listen you'll get nowhere.

"Everyone here has been willing to do what we've asked of them and it's come together in the last few games."

The progress under Stone, assistant manager Graham Bressington and coach Jim Melville is best seen in Marlow's defence.

After not keeping a clean sheet until November, the team were on course for their fourth in a row until Hemel struck an 85th minute equaliser on Monday.

Stone said: "It was a good point for us in the end. They missed a penalty and an open goal so while we were disappointed to concede so late, we can't complain. Financially, Hemel are geared to be in the Premier Division."

The draw came after 2-0 wins over Thame United and Ashford Town to complete an impressive Christmas period, but the New Year brings fresh challenges.

Stone said: "Financially, there are some big-hitters below us in the table. We're fifth now and know that we'll do well to stay there. At the start of every season you want to improve on the last. We need 13 more points to do that so lets get past that and then take it from there."

Marlow host Bedworth United today.