Fortress Sonning Gives in to Thame Opposition

With Warbs making his comeback, Diggers coming out of retirement, Tyler accepting the challenge to help us out again and Mitch in goal we were well set in defence & attack. BUT we were only 11 players due to Rudi having to pull out at the last minute (definitely a DOD nomination for next week!) and so there were some murmurings about fitness and injuries and whether everyone would last the full 70 minutes. After the usual 7’s style warm up and Thame deciding their shirts were too close in colour to ours and borrowing some red bibs we were set for the push back.

First Half
The first half was well contested with pressure at both ends and some fine saves by both goalies. Mitch did himself proud! The Sonning central defence of Simon & Warbs held out well and we had some great passing manoeuvres coming out of defence with Andy & Jon on the right and Steve & Russell on the left working the ball between them well. But Thame had a very solid midfield and were able to create space for their forwards to run onto the ball and about 15 minutes in to the half we went 1-0 down. Undeterred Sonning continued to pressure their defence, Tyler carrying the ball well and both Jay & Diggers getting on to the end of some great through passes, holding the ball well and then distributing but the Thame defence held strong. On a blistering counter attack Thame put together some great passes around our defence and we went 2-0 down. Finally after a period of pressing into Thame’s 23 yard area, from a free hit just outside the D, Jeremy shot against the keeper, collected the rebound and then slotted his second shot past the floored keeper to keep Sonning in the game at 2-1. Soon after the half time whistle blew.

Halftime
Everyone got their breath back at half time and resolved that the game was there for us to win! Tactics were the same - pass to a blue shirt! Keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!

Second Half
The first period of the second half saw Sonning resolve to get even and we won a couple of short corners. But we didn’t make the most of them and before we knew it we were facing a couple of Thame short corners at the other end. Thame slotted one of these away and we were 3-1 down. Sonning legs tired in the second period but Thame with quite a young squad kept moving the ball well and created a great hockey move with a superb finish to put the game beyond reach for Sonning. The rest of the game is just a blur!

Analysis
Well played Sonning and although we went down, we didn’t go without a fight and we all enjoyed ourselves, which is the main reason we play!!