West Hampstead 2nd XI 0 - 4 Sonning 1st XI

Before Christmas, Sonning suffered their first defeat of the season during a home fixture against West Hampstead 2nd XI, losing 3-2 in an ill-tempered clash. Their discipline had been poor and they spent nearly half the game with 10 or less players, so it was obvious what the key would be on their away trip to Brent Cross: Essentially, to wind their necks in and focus on playing some expansive and quick-paced hockey.

They did this with reckless abandon in the first 35 minutes, penning their opponents back and limiting them to crash balls on the break. Alasdair Allan was called into action in goal a few times however, but performed his duties with a quality that he has lacked for most of the season, while at the other end of the pitch Ian Gallagher helped himself to a first half brace, which was added to by a Jonathan Sharp drag flick to make the score 0-3 at the break.

Sonning let the game get scrappy in the second half, and didn’t quite maintain their level, but the next goal was key and it was tucked away by Jonathan Sharp to give Sonning a 0-4 lead. The visitors did well to limit their opponents to just a few chances though, and Allan retained a much needed clean sheet, which when added to his beloved Scotland’s first Six Nations victory in 2 years on the same day, meant he had enjoyed quite an afternoon.

Next up, Sonning host an in-form Slough 1st XI who have been making a charge up the league table in recent weeks. #COTN

Goalscorers: Ian Gallagher 2, Jonathan Sharp 2
MOTM: Sam Terry
DOTD: Jack ‘ trashes-his-mates-on-the-sidelines’ Mason