ALEX MARSHALL and Paul Foster scraped through to today's final stages of the Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Singles at the Ponds Forge in Sheffield with both players producing the match-winner with their last deliveries in their opening matches yesterday.
Marshall was left reeling on the ropes in the opening set of his match against Mervyn King, with the Englishman producing a solid performance to whitewash the Scot 10-0, in just seven of the allotted nine-end set.
But in a replay of their semi-fin
al clash in this event last year, Marshall did eventually get his revenge.
In the early stages of the second set it looked as though the pendulum had gone full circle when the East Lothian star took a commanding 6-0 three-end lead, increasing that to 10-2 two ends later. However, despite a late charge by King, a relieved Marshall held on to take the set 10-9.
King took first blood in the tie-break with Marshall levelling the score in the second and in a tense, concluding end, Marshall clipped the jack to the side of the head with the last bowl of the match to take the vital count and a place in today's last-four line up.
Marshall said later: "I was more than happy with the way I played in the first set, but Mervyn was just on fire. However, I took the positives into the second set and made a good start, and that settled me."
In a replay of their Engage final at this venue nine months ago, Foster dominated in the opening set of his match against No.4 seed Jason Greenslade, and put the set out of sight at 11-1 in just seven ends.
However, Greenslade came back strongly in the second and held a set lie, which would have forced the match to a best-of-three shoot-out, before Foster's last delivery nosed the verdict 7-6.
The shock result from the opening day saw No.8 seed Andy Thomson end the reign of title favourite and defending champion Greg Harlow, who won the inaugural event last year.
There was nothing to separate both players, but after three previous defeats at the hands of Harlow it was sweet revenge for the 52-year-old St Andrews-born Thomson with his 7-6, 7-7 photo finish.
No.3 seed David Gourlay, who is now back home and residing in Glasgow, saw his title aspirations brought to a halt by Suffolk's Mark Royal.
Gourlay set the pace in the opening set but wasn't quite so consistent in the second and with the scores evenly poised at one set apiece, Royal pulled off the result in the tie-break to post a 6-8, 9-3, 2-0 victory.
The winner of today's semi-final clashes between Thomson and Foster and Marshall and Royal will go head-to-head for the title later tonight.
The full article contains 503 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
