Sonning 1st XI 6 – 2 Oxford OBU 1st XI

After a disappointing draw away at Marlow, Sonning welcomed the newly formed Oxford OBU 2nd XI to the Doom Bar Arena with a point to prove. Facing a squad of 16, predominantly of a youthful and athletic disposition, skipper Jonty Rider emphasised the need to start well, dominate possession and let the ball work for the home side. Still missing Neil Pursell and Ben Sully from their ranks, Sonning lined up with an unchanged squad of 14.

At Marlow, Sonning had dominated possession for the opening 10 minutes, only to be stung twice on the break to find themselves 0-2 down. They clearly had a point to prove, and in particular Nick Leach was keen to put his stamp on the game early on.

Leach bagged his first from a short corner after 2 minutes, then waltzed past 3 defenders before getting a shot away for his second perhaps 1 minute later, before Sonning had even made their first rotation of subs, Leach had his hat-trick when he converted another well won penalty corner. A hat trick after 5 minutes is certainly something the faithful at Sonning Lane have ever seen before and Oxford were only as shell shocked as Sonning’s onlooking substitutes. After cries of ‘get him off’, and ‘go home Leach, you’re making us look bad’, Sonning knuckled down and got back to task. 3-0.

Oxford, to their credit, took the game to Sonning for the rest of the half. They moved the ball with as much pace as any side in the league, and they did look like they were a potential goal threat whenever in the last quarter of the pitch. They bagged one goal back about midway through the half. Sonning’s midfield were caught out by a particularly deep aerial pass, which left an Oxford forward one on one with Allan in goal. Should they have let him have a shot on goal, against Allan there would only ever be one outcome, so skipper Rider and Sam Terry combined to put in a last ditch, two footed, two sticked tackle that took down the player, without managing to get so much as a whiff of the ball. Neither is taking credit for the result, which was of course a penalty stroke, so this commentator is allowing them to share the accolades.

Unsurprisingly, the flick was converted, and Oxford managed to bring the result back to 3-1. Sonning went close through Huw Thomas shortly before the break, but after a referral between umpires, he was (correctly) judged to have kicked the ball before his convincing reverse shot went in.

At the break it was clear that at 3-1, the next goal could be pivotal. Should Oxford have scored next, they would have fancied themselves to get back in the game and up until this week, they were the only team still undefeated in the league.

It was clear why they have managed to go unbeaten until now, because the start of the second half saw them totally pin back Sonning into their own half. They won a series of short corners, but couldn’t quite convert, with Allan defying expectations in goal; actually make some encouraging saves.

Oxford were made to pay for this profligacy as Sonning went down the other end and scored two goal in quick succession through Ian Gallagher. First he turned home a penalty corner, before slapping home a precise finish in open play after some strong work down the right wing. 5-2.

Sonning scored their 6th and final goal near the end of what had been a tirelessly end to end match through James Manser. He played a one-two with Lockhart from a sideline ball and found himself one on one against the keeper after some slack defending, finishing coolly from a tight angle to make it 6-2 and to add some gloss to the result.

Next up, Sonning travel to Cantley to face joint league leaders South Berks 1st XI. #COTN

Squad: Alasdair Allan, Jonty Rider (c), Nick Leach, Sam Terry, Pat Thomas, Ian Finlayson, Callum Richardson, Ed Williamson, Ian Gallagher, James Manser, Noel Plant, Huw Thomas, Jon Sharp, James Lockhart

Goalscorers: Ian Gallagher (2), Nick Leach (3), James Manser

MOTM: Callum Richardson
DOTD: Sam Terry