SONNING 3 - 2 EASTCOTE
17th November 2007

With great anticipation, Sonning 4's met for what was going to be one of the key games of the season. The opponents were Eastcote 5's. With us both second equal on points, and level on goal difference, it was going to be a match to savour. But what happened...... What ever it was, it took a long time to get going... read on!

Delays, then more delays, and guess what... even more delays! Firstly the ladies 1's opponents debated a P-flick, then the retake of the same flick, then the resulting card for "advising" the umpire, and finally the kit requirements for a kicking back as their goalkeeper was that aforementioned advisor. 20 minutes lost.

On to the mens 2's. How dare they waste time breaking an opponents ankle at a short corner. 20 minutes later, after umpire Flec guided in the ambulance, the game restarted. 10 minutes later and after some handbag flouncing in the corner, the 2's opposition appeared to have a 15 minute debate on whether to walk off. Oh dear, the grumpy 4's were watching their watches and heckling from the side! What a grumpy bunch we were before our game started, 60 minutes late!

But in front of our largest crowd of the season (one keen young lady and 2 kids), and by strange coincidence our furthest travelled crowd (The young lady was just in from Hong Kong), the beautiful team got off to a roaring start - 1 minute gone and it was Sonning 1 Eastcote 0. The mathematicians had a field day - keep up that rate of scoring and we reckoned on a 70 - 0 win! (Dream on boys.) The scorer, Mike Bailey.

Next up Dan Slinger made it 2 - 0. Unfortunately the score rate had dropped but it was still looking good! The half time team talk passed quickly, it had to! But sadly we failed to catch up on the missing 60 minutes. (The mathematicians were so busy recalculating scoring rates they failed to notice that you could not regain 60 minutes by shortening half time.)

The second half proved a more challenging affair. Eastcote started showing a mix of flair on the ball and well structured hockey. Their initial gain was a number of shorts, and then disaster. The 2 goal cushion was halved to 1. After another period of pressure on Sonning, Handford Junior proved that he's not just a "pretty boy". After taking a well timed pass from Mat "I'm claiming every assist I can" Price, Junior ran in from the half way line, fired a strong shot in from an angle, picked up the rebound himself, and calmly lobbed the keeper. Buffer restored.

Eastcote continued the pressure for the remainder of the game, had a number of chances, but by the end could only salvage a second goal. End result Sonning 3 - Eastcote 2 and clear second place in the league to the best looking team in the best looking club in the county!

Man of the Match: Steve Ford again. A fine example of experience being no substitute for youth! (Have I got that right?)
Dick of the Day: Handford Junior for trying to remove himself from the score sheet - he thought it was the DoD nominations list, What a Dick!
Goal Scorers: Mike Bailey, Dan Slinger and Handford Junior
Worthy of Mention: Asher, Handford, Ford, Cass, Handford, Slinger, Pemberton, Togher, Lewis, Patterson, Bailey...and Price.
Lastly, Thanks to the mens 2's for the umpires!

RH