Sonning Mens 1's 4 - 1 West Hampstead 2's

After a good win last time out against Eastcote, Sonning were looking to carry on the trend against a West Hampstead side who have been struggling in the league this year. With low availability meaning only 12 players made the trip it was vital that the team made a fast start, made especially important after being informed in the team talk that if we didn't win we wouldn't be leaving.
With thoughts of a club night under threat, Sonning did indeed start brightly, with James Manser running onto an aerial straight from pushback, his top spin backhand just being kept out by the keeper.

Maintaining the early pressure, the opposition were limited to only the odd break. One such break was rewarded with a short corner, the umpire disappointingly alive to Ian Finlayson using his feet this week, but a strong stick save from Alasdair Allen keeping them at bay. Strong running from the midfielders and strikers in yellow made distribution from the back easy and Sonning were able to get through the defence multiple times, finally being rewarded with a clinical strike by Ian Gallagher from the top of the D. This proved to be the only breakthrough in the first half, and a slightly frustrated team went into the half time talk where they were again asked to "please score".

Sonning came out strongly again in the second half, with the press really starting to tell on the West Hampstead defence. Their hard work was rewarded when Gally sold the keeper with his eyes to slip Alex Littleboy in to finish into an empty net. Now, with their tales up, Sonning continued to pressurise the defence, punishing the opposition again when Jimmy flicked a reverse shot which dribbled powerfully past the desperate keeper.

Deciding a 3-0 lead is a good time to improve the stats for the season the team looked to up their short corner conversion rate. After a few practices, a slick routine saw China, using the right side of his stick this time, cooly slot it past the keeper to almost double the season success rate.

With Alasdair Allen looking for an unprecedented second clean sheet in a row, the Sonning defence decided they would help out the opposition attackers. After confidently taking all previous aerials Tamps started the trend with a confident call of "mine", only to watch it sail serenely over his head, just about mopped up before reaching the attacker. However, Ned really made sure by stopping a ball in front of an attacker on the half way line and kindly falling over. Despite desperate dives from Tamps and Ali, plus more poor footwork by Fin he snuck into score an undeserved consolation.

It was another solid performance from a Sonning team looking to make headway in the league, but still lacking the goals their play really deserves.

MOM: Ian Finlayson
DOD: Matt Poulton.

Written by Ian Finlayson