SONNING 3 - 2 MILTON KEYNES
26th January 2008

Sonning had a long journey to Milton Keynes this week and having travelled in some slow moving traffic on the way, we started the first half with slightly lethargic legs!

Overall, Sonning were playing well and putting Milton Keynes under some pressure, but were struggling to make the final pass click. Then, against the run of play, Milton Keynes scored the first goal - a frustrating dribbler over the line! With Sonning heads seemingly still on the motorway, another goal managed to make its way into the Sonning goal. 2 - 0 to Milton Keynes at half time.

After a stern talk by captain Mei Jones, Sonning started the second half with more energy and in a fighting spirit. As a result of this pressure, Claire McEwen powered a pass from the top of the D, which was kindly deflected into the goal by Milton Keynes. 2 - 1 to MK.

Superb discipline in the press followed and some really hard work from every player on the pitch saw Sonning dominate MK, pinning them into their own half for the majority of the second half. During this continued pressure, a lovely long pass across the pitch from Mei found, of all people (!), Sally T. on the left-hand side of the D. We were slightly worried Sally may suffer a nosebleed from being so high up the pitch but as Sophie ran in on the right hand side, a cunning square ball cut out the defender. On receiving the ball Sophie drove the ball towards the goal, which the keeper initially saved but Sophie was quick to follow up on the rebound and found the back of the net. 2 - 2.

Sonning were now playing with greater fluency and confidence than in the first half and it was only a matter of time before the winning goal came. Within a few minutes of drawing level, Sonning had found the back of the net again with some lovely attacking play - passing around MK and pressurising them well. A long corner led to a lovely cross into the D, which Yasmin expertly made contact with, finding the back of the net. 3- 2 to Sonning and the first time we had been in the lead.

With 10 minutes to go, Sonning defended strongly and although MK had a couple of attempts on goal, we kept the score to a very satisfying 3-2 win. 3 precious league points from a very exciting and hard fought match.
 

Team: Rose Scales; Mei Jones; Caroline Smith; Claire McEwen; Sophie; Catherine; Gemma Holmes; Marie Tiltman; Vicki Clark; Sally Tunnicliffe; Yasmin Williams; Kristina Einarsson.

Player of the match: Claire McEwen