Sonning 1st XI 3 - 2 Oxford 2nd XI

The day began with Sonning bottom of the league, but in the knowledge that thanks to a superior goal difference, a win would see them leapfrog Oxford, Marlow and OMT and into 9th place. The last time these two sides played at Sonning Lane, it was under slightly different circumstances, with the MBBO 2 league title at stake. Sonning came out on top that day, but knew a tough game lay ahead.

So it was to be, with the opening exchanges heated and open, with chances for both sides going begging. Oxford started with an aggressive high press that Sonning struggled with initially. They were eventually able to get out through some interplay from Sam Terry and Ollie Waddington, and won a short corner after James Lockhart forced repeated fouls from the Oxford left back with some direct running on the right wing. Paul Brown converted confidently, after the initial strike from Ian Gallagher fell kindly to his stick from the injectors position.

Oxford equalised quickly before the break, with a short corner routine that they had scored with on their last visit to the Lane. Same routine, same scorer, same outcome, with Merriman disappointed to be beaten cheaply at his near post after a short injection to a left slip created an angle for a simple straight strike. 1-1.

In the second half it became evident that a point wasn't acceptable for either side, and it made for a pulsating 35 minutes. Chris Hinton and Mark Dobbie, reunited in the centre of the park ran the game well, and a returning Matt Sloper at left back added a new dimension to Sonning's play, and they gained the ascendancy.

Their second goal came from a turnover in the Sonning half, with Terry winning possession, and quickly handing over to Jonathan Sharp who laid a long weighted pass to Noel Plant deep in opposition territory. He in turn found Gallagher, who selflessly chose against the shot from a tight angle and instead put skipper Ridley in for a tap in at the back post after he had made up 60 yards to get there from the top of his own D. Sterling work, and effortlessly executed. 2-1.

Oxford equalised quicky again however to level the score after a cheap turnover on the top of the Sonning circle, which winded the home side for a few minutes. Their passing game deserted them and for a while it appeared that the game would peter out into a result that neither side really wanted. Eventually however, Sonning were able to regain some composure, and they won a late short corner through Jimmy Manser, which was converted by Gallagher, with a straight strike too hot to handle! 3-2.

Sonning clung on for a well deserved victory which will hopefully serve as a step to recovering their league form after a hard couple of months.

Goalscorers: Paul Brown, Ian Gallagher, Steve Ridley
MOTM: Steve Ridley
DOTD: Matt Sloper