Marlborough United 2–1 Aigburth FC: Atalay avoids the wobble

Match report

Arda Atalay opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, collecting a half-cleared corner and finishing with the composure of a man who has been here before. A week earlier he had scored against Kirkby: the boy is developing a habit. The early goal settled the hosts and left Aigburth chasing a game they had not planned to play. To their credit, they did not fold. They simply carried on being Aigburth, which is a different thing entirely.

The equaliser came inside a minute of the restart. Akinola Alaba crossed from the right, Bernhard Abendroth rose and headed in, and suddenly the leaders had a problem. Abendroth had scored in the 90th minute against Crookes last time out: this one required considerably less patience. For about twenty minutes, Marlborough looked ordinary. For a team at the top, ordinary is a crisis. Aigburth pressed the advantage with the urgency of a side who had just remembered they were supposed to be trying, though their structural gaps remained wide enough to drive a bus through.

Then Atalay decided enough was enough. In the 74th minute, Erdem Çelebi acted as a mediapunta, sliding a pass through the lines, and Atalay finished first time, low and precise. Two goals on the day, three in two matches, and the points were safe. This was a little less tight than their previous encounter, but no less conclusive.

So Marlborough remain top, Aigburth remain 13th, and the natural order of things has been preserved. Matchday 37 arrives soon, and if Atalay keeps scoring before the half-hour mark, the title race may be over before most people have finished their tea.