Sonning 1st XI 4 - 2 Bicester 1st XI

Just 24 hours after their win at Slough, a battered and bruised Sonning 1st XI took to the field against Bicester 1st XI for their re-arranged National Vase 1st round fixture. Bicester are in the league beneath Sonning, but having despatched Sonning 2nd XI comfortably in the Doombar Arena, they were not to be taken lightly. Sonning were missing a few regulars, but made up for it by selecting a full squad, with Jordan Manning starting at right back, Matt Poulton starting up front, and Jimmy ‘he-used-to-score-when-he-wanted’ Manser & Huw Thomas joining the ranks.

Bicester had just XI players along for the ride, and they came out hard and fast, clearly hoping to take an early lead and defend on the half court. This is a tactic that Sonning became pretty good at a few years ago, but it gave them a bit of trouble to play against early on. They tried to put the pressure on Bicester, but their movement and ball-pace was a bit lethargic, and they were made to pay for it. Bicester struck first, with a quick break, a penalty corner, Sonning losing a man for breaking early, and a hashed routine, making the home side pay for failing to clear pads after the initial shot was saved. 0-1.

Sonning’s frustration was evident straight from the resulting push-back and they immediately attacked down the right wing at pace, with James Lockhart driving the baseline and cutting back to Mark Dobbie at the top of the circle. One touch to control, throw the keeper the wonky eyes (pretending to have a stroke?), then smash a clipped shot top-left?..... Yeah, OK then! Apparently Snoop Dobbie Dob has that in his locker now! Who knew? 1-1.

Sonning were back in the game and starting knocking the ball about around, dominating possession, but still unable to make a chance stick. They were made pay for their casual play, as Bicester re-took the lead once again with around 10 minutes in the half left to play. 1-2.

Sonning once again used this to spur them on, with a decent crowd on the sideline making themselves heard. Just before the half time whistle, Ian Gallagher won a penalty corner, and running a variation, Tom Sampson converted coolly to equalize once again for his 4th goal of year. 2-2.

At half time and at 2-2, the frustration in the Sonning ranks was palpable. But they remained calm. On home turf, and with a full squad against 11 men, the momentum would come their way. In actual fact, Bicester stuck to their task admirably, and it wasn’t as easy as it should have been for Sonning to turn the screw. Eventually though they did manage to pen their opponents and they began to tire, somewhat inevitably really. Ian Gallagher won, then converted a penalty stroke after being illegally impeded by the Bicester keeper as he attempted to cut back to an unmarked James Lockhart on the P-Spot for an open-goal finish. 3-2.

With the lead, and carrying them momentum, the Sonning back line stepped higher and higher up the pitch, until it felt like the whole game was being played in one half. Despite this, Sonning’s final deliveries were poor, and their general attacking play was a bit sloppy. One chance fell to Jimmy Manser though, who channelled his inner Ashley Jackson, hitting a sweet reverse strike towards the top left of the goal, with just the slightest of nicks by the goalie’s stick preventing what would have been a wonder goal! It happened something like that anyway….

Just before the full-time whistle however they put some gloss on the result, with a goal for David Painter, who latched onto a long ball from the halfway line. In behind the Bicester back-line, who were completely out of position he deflected from near the top of the circle, with the slightest of touches deceiving the keeper who was off his line and unable to react in time. 4-2.

The next round will be played in less than one week from now, on Sunday 29th November, 15:30 on the Reading sand-based astroturf against Surrey based Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian 1st XI. Support is of course welcomed, and our ladies ‘Classics’ will be playing in the Over 35’s cup shortly before. #COTN!

Goalscorers: Mark Dobbie, Ian Gallagher (p), David Painter, Tom Sampson
MOTM: Mark Dobbie
DOTD: Paul Brown