SONNING 0-5 ASHFORD
17th November 2007

A plethora of unavailable players saw a 10 man Sonning side making the journey inside the M25 to take on Eastcote late on a cold November day. However spirits were high and Captain Tim even coaxed the squad into the first team warm up of the season. Sonning lined up in a 3-5-1 formation and the game began.

Immediately the extra numbers on the Eastcote side began to tell, with Sonning doing a lot of defensive work. When we were in possession finding space was difficult and time on the ball was at a premium. It was only a matter of time before the defence was overwhelmed and Sonning went a goal behind. Two more quickly followed, until finally Sonning switched to a more direct and positive style of play. Combining this with quick counter-attacks we began to get a toehold in the game and a period of quick hockey was the result. The net result was a counter-attack breaking down and the defence being overwhelmed once more, but Sonning were playing good hockey and spirits were remarkably good as Eastcote went into half time 4 - 0 leaders.

Sonning focussed on the positives at half time, and it was decided to carry on playing the positive counter-attacking game throughout the second half. The result was the Eastcote midfield began to play much deeper and the Sonning central midfield were able to assert much more control over the game. This resulted in a very even second half, with chances at both ends. Sadly, the one that went in was an Eastcote shot and Sonning went 5-0 down. Heads stayed up however and everybody kept working hard and the Sonning attacks looked more and more dangerous as the game went on, with a good double effort from Ed "Rage" Angerson going only slightly wide, although jesting comments from our illustrious Captain were not well received. The final whistle blew just as Sonning won a short corner. Everybody came up to assist, but sadly this exciting end came to nothing with the shot going wide.

Man of the match: Tim Hill
DOTD: Patrick for going to play football instead.

Tim Hill