Rivals go head to head

A crucial game for the Sonning 5s against Reading Rovers this weekend gave skipper Max Phippard some difficult selection decisions which were made harder by Ian "Hadder's" Hadland requirement to be on the throne for the day and therefore unavailable.

Max Phippard once again lost the toss on Readings 'water based' pitch (which must be under a hose pipe ban of sorts) giving them the PB.

From the very early minutes of the game it felt as though this should be Sonning's day however it was the opposition that went ahead around 20 minutes into the game. Sonning responded well working the ball down the wings with Sam Boseley , Wesley Churchill and Dave Ransome all having decent runs at their opposite numbers.

At around the 30 minute mark Sonning were awarded a short corner which was well worked from Paul Cutler, in the strikers position, to Dave Ransome who smashed the back board from level with the p-spot.

Half time quickly came around with the game poised at 1-1 and everything to play for. Sonning definitely felt that they were ahead at the break mainly due to managing to control the bouncing ball much better than the rovers - largely due to the years of experience we had over our opposite numbers and therefore memories of bobbling games on the grass.

Sonning stormed out of the blocks for the 2nd half despite the day's DOD (Rich Boyden) having to leave to go and part take in some kind of 'urgent' attendance at a Pepper Pig event.

Our lone forward, Grant Strudley, continued to put Reading under pressure with some brilliant runs into space and managing to hold the ball up masterfully at times to enable the halves to gain position in the D. It was one of these marvellous attacks that resulted in Ed Goodall very almost scoring the goal of the season (for the whole club!) with a half volley attempt at sticks that would have surely flown for 6 on any cricket pitch.

Wesley Churchill smashed himself onto the score seat mid way through the second half after following up the ball brilliantly after it had hit the post, shortly after this Ed Goodall managed to take the 3rd and final goal of the game to leave Sonning with a much needed win.

By Neil Pipe