Maidenhead 1st XI 2 – 1 Sonning 1st XI

Sonning arrived with a relatively full squad, albeit with injuries to David Painter, keeper Ali Allan and with Matt Sloper missing. Neil Thomson and Huw Thomas came into the mix, with club stalwart Rob Merriman filling in on GK duties.

The game began well for the hosts, who dominated the early spells of possession while nullifying Sonning as they attempted to play on the break. Nothing clear cut was created in this period though, and Sonning struck against the run of play, with an Ian Gallagher strike just about staying low enough to count, ricocheting off the top of the keeper’s outstretched leg and into the roof of the net. 0-1.

Maidenhead came back into the game, with long spells of attacking pressure, and they evened the score shortly before half time, with a turnover on the left wing rapidly ending up with a powerful reverse strike beating Merriman at the near-post. 1-1.

The second half was a very open affair. Both sides created chance, and won penalty corners. Sonning had the best of the early exchanges, and would have re-taken the lead if not for an outstanding goal-line clearance. A Ridley drag flick had the keeper beaten, and was on a course for the back-board, but for an instinctive block by a Maidenhead defender.

In the end, it was Maidenhead who capitalised, with a strike from the left side being deflected in by an ‘on-loan’ player, fresh from Holland’s league winter break. Nevertheless, a well taken goal which Merriman could do little about. 2-1.

Sonning pressed to the death, but couldn’t break through the Maidenhead back-line, who defended admirably and absorbed everything their visitors could muster.

So 2-1 the final score, with 24 hours until Sonning’s fourth game in nine days against fellow league strugglers, Oxford 2nd XI .

Goalscorer: Ian Gallagher
MOTM: Chris Hinton
DOTD: Paul Brown