5-star 5s in free scoring form

As we approach the final few matches of the season, the reality of a season of success for the 5s is still very much on the cards. Sonning welcomed a Reading Rascals team who are, as their name suggests, a team of youthful energy mixed in with some experienced heads to give the team a little more steel.

Sonning started on the front foot, and played with a fluency that suggested this could be a competitive but comfortable afternoon. Unfortunately Paul Cutler pulled up very early with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by John Warby from the bench. Get well soon Paul! Within the first 10 minutes, a short corner was executed with a routine used so effectively before, with Ian 'Hadders' Hadland pushing the ball to Ed Goodall at the far post to slot into the goal as he has done so many times this season. A short spell of sustained Reading pressure lead to a succession of short corners, the 2nd of which saw Sonning counter quickly through an off-the-bench Elliott Weiss, tracking back from halfway to collect the ball on the edge of the D, before laying it off to midfield and continuing his run upfield. He found himself receiving a perfectly weighted ball from Radar (apparently his real name is Chris O'Hagen - unconfirmed) to carry the ball into the final third of the pitch and into the D to finish coolly under the onrushing keeper. Sonning went in at HT 2-0 to the good.

In the second half it was more of the same, with regular rotation from the bench ensuring Sonning continued to play at a high tempo. Soon enough Elliott was off the bench for a second time to score his second goal of the afternoon, linking up with with Chris 'Stoney' Stone in the D to finish into the far corner. Stoney soon got on the scoresheet himself with an excellently taken goal to make it 4-0.

Then something unexplainable happened. A rare Reading short corner was pushed horribly wide, but somehow, with tremendous accuracy, Radar managed to volley past Rhys in the Sonning goal from an impossible angle to make it 4-1. Some of the spectators on the day are still scratching their heads as to why Radar did that. Not cool.

Attempting to atone for his inexcusable error, Radar was a recurring menace for the Reading defense, driving at them with stick skills most of us only dream of. From a resulting short corner, Hadders took the opportunity to get himself on the scoresheet with a shot straight from the drag out to him. 5-1

The game was won and Sonning were controlling it well, although an unfortunate late block on the line with a foot resulted in a Reading flick, the game finished 5-2 but nevertheless, a satisfying win as the 5s keep marching on.