Sonning 1st XI 0 – 1 Staines 2nd XI

Staines have had a mixed bag of results so far this year. After beating Chiswick 4-0 in week 1, they lost 2-0 to Maidenhead the following Saturday, so Sonning were unsure what to expect. They themselves have been consistent, if not spectacular thus far, with 2 draws from 2 to date, so a tough game was all but assured.

After a shortened warm up, both sides began cagily when in possession, and struggled to maintain any fluidity in their attacking play. Sonning found themselves penned deep against an aggressive press, and although they did manage to create a handful of opportunities on the break through Noel Plant (making his season debut) and Ian Gallagher, it was the visitors who probably started the brighter.

After a sustained period of pressure, and a couple of back-to-back penalty corners, Staines made the breakthrough that they had probably deserved. Sonning were pretty devastated to concede so meekly in the end however, with a couple of deflections on the way through allowing a poor flick to beat their keeper and post-man, who had both been faultless until that point.

In the second half the game was scrappy and doggedly fought. Both sides had penalty corner opportunities, but struggled to create anything clear-cut from open play, while defending resolutely. In the closing encounters, Sonning did manage to pen back their visitors, but it was to no avail. They just couldn’t find the final pass to make the most of their possession.

Kudos to Staines, who came and executed their strategy well, in what was a fairly fought game. Both sides will certainly look forward to the return fixture.

MOTM: Sam Terry
DOD: Ollie Waddington