SONNING 6 - 0 AYLESBURY
8th March 2008

What a time to score 6 and keep another clean sheet - we went top as a result of this and can't finish lower than 2nd. We have the best defensive record and scored the most goals. Swans losing to Henley now means our match against them is the decider for 1st place, so roll on 15 March!

This was one of those games where the nerves jangled but, once the 1st goal went in, there never seemed to be any doubt as to the result. A nice build up from the midfield saw Jordan cut the ball back from the by-line on the reverse stick and found Andy Patterson in space - goal no.1

The 2nd came from a short corner with a lovely high flick by Will, who then added a 3rd from open play. Leighton played some nice hockey and looked as if they could create something, but the whole team defended well and made the job easier for those of us at the back. In fact, it was so quiet for Andrew in goal that he had to ask what the round white object was that he occasionally saw on our 16 line. The 2nd half did get busier for him though - he kicked the ball once.

So, 3-0 and we were playing very confidently. Rich Pegram at right back had licence to go forward pretty much all the time and he linked up nicely with John, Patrick and Antony. One such move led to a beautiful goal from Antony - feigning to go one way and then putting the ball the other side of their goalie.

4-0 at half time and Jeremy decided it was safe to sit out the 2nd half - well he had been playing with a fractured finger and he'd be needed for the last game of the season - that's dedication to the cause!

The 2nd half saw 5 colts on the pitch (if Joe hadn't been struck down by a bug that morning, it would have been all 6). Jack and Bilaal linked up on the left nicely and it wasn't long before Jack swept the ball into the goal from an acute angle. Chances were reduced in the 2nd half, with Bilaal and Mark just missing the target, but finally a 3rd colt goal came near the end, with Jordan driving into the D and going round the goalie to stick it away.

Job done, and boy did it feel good! A great team effort for our last home game of the season!

Man of the Matchwent to Jeremy Matheson for playing, at short notice, with a fractured thumb (see Aylesbury match report) and helping to secure another clean sheet.
Thanks to our 2 umpires, Mike Weeks & Andrew Vincent, and to the Mums, Dads and other Sonning players for their fantastic support.