Men's 1st XI
Matches
Sat 15 Feb 2020  ·  Middx, Berks, Bucks & Oxon - Regional 2
Milton Keynes 2
0
6
Sonning Hockey Club
Men's 1st XI
Milton Keynes 2nd XI 0 – 6 Sonning 1st XI

Milton Keynes 2nd XI 0 – 6 Sonning 1st XI

Jonty Rider17 Feb 2020 - 13:03
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Sonning 1st XI hit six once again

Storm Dennis was in full flow as Sonning took to the pitch to face a Milton Keynes side who, while having a mixed bag of results, are always a threat on home turf. The visitors were able to bring an unchanged squad from their 6-0 demolition of Harrow, but with travel disruptions giving them precisely 15 minutes in which to warm up and run drills, it was unsurprising that they started slowly.

Milton Keynes had by far the better of the opening exchanges. For 15 minutes they were consistently able to overturn possession against an unusually disjointed Sonning. The Sonning back-line however held firm and bought their midfield time to get up to speed without conceding.

Midway through the half and following a clash with player/coach Neil Pursell, MK lost a centre half to the naughty step, first with a green card for a heavy challenge, quickly upgraded to yellow after telling the umpire of his plans to ‘Smash Mr Pursell’s face in’ when he came back onto the pitch. This was to prove a costly outburst, as Sonning made the most of the numerical advantage, scoring three goals in a dizzy five-minute spell.

First, Ian Finlayson snatched home an instinctive reverse volley after a Noel Plant strike was kicked back by the MK keeper around waist height. This was quickly followed by a goal for Plant, who beat both his marker and the MK keeper to the near post for a tip in, following a driven cross from right back and skipper, Jonty Rider. Next, Jimmy Manser turned home his first, and his side’s third of the day, picking a bouncing ball up on the circle’s edge, and lashing home a half volley into the roof of the net. 0-3.

With MK back up to 11, Manser struck again just moments later to close out the half. This time with his back to goal, with a single touch to turn his marker, and another half volley – this one striking the backboard, the result and the message was the same: The postman always delivers! 0-4.

The second half carried on at a frenetic pace – both sides showing eagerness, but with unforced errors creeping in. The weather was now a big factor, and arguably it was Sonning who coped better. Huw Thomas got 2 goals in the half to see his side match last week’s 6-0 scoreline.

First he struck on the reverse, with tidy finish; a driving cross from the left wing allowing him one touch to round the keeper, and one touch to slap home at a reasonably tight angle. Next, he followed this up with Sonning’s best goal of the game. In textbook fashion they turned defence to attack with 3 crisp passes, traversed the length of the field in a handful of seconds, the passage of play concluding with Manser providing Thomas with the simplest of tap-ins; a true team goal. 0-6.

Sonning can be pleased with their work, but despite the scoreline there was the pervasive feeling that they never got out of third gear today. Coach Pursell will be pleased with a comment made by an unnamed Milton Keynes player however, who towards the end of the game told the Sonning bench that their willingness to work off the ball, and have their opponents permanently on the move was nothing short of “sadistic”. Next up, Marlow visit the Doombar Arena – and as one of only two sides to take points off Sonning this season, are sure to represent a serious challenge. #doombararena #COTN

Squad: Ben Sullivan, Neil Pursell, Jonty Rider (c), Nick Leach, Pat Thomas, Callum Richardson, Ian Finlayson, Ed Williamson, Steve Ridley, James Lockhart, Jimmy Manser, Ian Gallagher, Noel Plant, Huw Thomas

Goalscorers: Ian Finlayson, Jimmy Manser (2), Noel Plant, Huw Thomas (2)

MOTM: Huw Thomas / Jimmy Manser

DOTD: Ian Gallagher

Match details

Match date

Sat 15 Feb 2020

Kickoff

12:30

Instructions


All MK 2 games are a 12.30pm start at our ground in Woughton on the Green

Competition

Middx, Berks, Bucks & Oxon - Regional 2

League position

1
Sonning 1
12
Milton Keynes 2
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit sponsor - Eight Wealth Management