SONNING 3 - 2 NEWBURY & THATCHAM
9th February 2008

After a run of poor results Sonning were trying to maintain their place in the promotion zone. The new pitch at Trinity School was pristine - and even smelt good as Johnson's Baby Powder was used to mark out both circles!

With Captain Sue making the tactical decision to start the game with the low, late-winter sun on our backs, we started the game in determined mood. However, the opposition had no intention of letting us have the upper hand and the early part of the game saw Newbury forcing Sonning into many defensive positions. We're fortunate to have strength at the back and Carol M, Ruth and Carol R stood strong as they repulsed the attacks; keeper Sue made several excellent clearances.

After the regulation 10 minutes of the game to warm up (!), Sonning came alive and began to string together some lovely hockey that stretched the Newbury team. And their defence proved not to be so strong when, in the 15th minute, Sharon received an attacking chance and found she had time and room to score. Continuing with the pressure, another lose ball was pounced on by Sharon and the strike was touched home by Carolynne.

A pass out to the left wing found Carolynne unmarked. She took the ball, ran into the goal, drawing the keeper towards her - and made a lovely pass to Sharon on the right. What should have been a certain goal was then well and truly fluffed by the team's top scorer ... (how empty do you want the goal?!)

Newbury opened the second half on the attack, and their tenacity paid off as they managed to pull one back fairly quickly. Sonning were swiftly back on the attack and they were rewarded with a short corner. Sharon's strike hit a defender's shin and rebounded into Janet's path to be swiftly slotted away. But the celebrations were cut short as the defender protested at the "high" shot and the umpire from the far end of the pitch over-ruled the umpire controlling the D - no goal.

Gumshields bitten into heavily, and Sonning again took control of the game and the third goal came as a result of good passing between Carolynne, Sharon and Anji, finally pushed in by Liz, who, carrying a muscle strain, only came on for the final ten minutes.

Newbury capitalised on a Sonning error in the dying minutes of the game to score a second goal, leaving Sonning with those important points - hovering in third place in the league.

J.Grindal

Team: Sue Hicks, Carol Miles, Ruth Beasley, Carol Reader, Karen Vive, Sara Edgerton, Anji Higgins, Jill Grindal, Liz Weeks, Jan Hepplewhite, Sharon Oldham, Carolynne Woffington.