Oxford 2nd XI 2 – 5 Sonning 1st XI

Despite this being an away fixture where they’ve often suffered from poor performances in recent years, Sonning 1st XI put in a solid away performance to take the points back to the Lane. With Rob Crackles, Matt Sloper and Neil Pursell unavailable, the squad was slightly changed after last week’s trip to Slough. Matt Poulton and Jonty Rider came into the side, with Rider making his league debut for the 1st XI.

In truth, the game was won in the first 25 minutes, with 4 goals scored from twice as many chances, including a saved penalty stroke. Sonning put their high press to good effect from the first whistle and turned possession over high up the pitch seemingly at will. Ian Finlayson bagged an early goal, waltzing through from the left wing and putting a reverse shot away for 0-1, before Ian Gallagher doubled the lead with a reverse shot after some neat link up play on the right wing by Alex Littleboy and James Lockhart.

Sonning quickly added a third, with Lockhart driving from midfield before Gallagher and Poulton linked up well to create a right post tap-in for Jimmy Manser.

After another period of prolonged pressure, Sonning then won a penalty stroke after Ian Finlayson’s rebound shot hit the body of the last defender, after a strong save by the Oxford keeper at a short corner. Ian Gallagher stepped up, but unusually couldn’t convert, with the keeper making an excellent stick save just inside his right post. Gallagher would make amends shortly after however, getting his brace and scoring a fourth for Sonning just moments later after finding space to get a shot away after some tight build up play.

0-4 at the break, and with the game won, Sonning went off the boil in the second half. Their opponents began finding space to move the ball through midfield after re-structuring their team’s shape, and got their first with a strong break from midfield after a period of pressure.

Sonning re-took their 4-goal cushion shortly after, through Ian Finlayson, with some good old fashioned pinball resulting in him pushing home from short range after a short corner break-down.

Oxford added another late consolation goal just before full time after some more strong play, but realistically the result was never in doubt and Sonning go into probably their biggest game of the season this Saturday at Sonning Lane, against fellow promotion hopefuls Amersham & Chalfont, in good form and good spirits. #COTN

Goalscorers: Ian Finlayson 2, Ian Gallagher 2, Jimmy Manser
MOTM: Thomas Sampson
DOTD: Callum Richardson