Frustration in the October Sunshine.

This report is sponsored by Alex Littleboy, our DoD for the day, and Kev Wooldridge the M2s new (un)official Home Game Coach - paid by beer.

On a ridiculously hot October day the Mens 2’s played host to Eastcote. The early exchanges were pretty even with both teams making good use of possession, it was Eastcote who had the first attempt on goal but Ali was more than a match for the Eastcote attack and some resolute defending by Beasely and Nathan meant Gaz and Alex Stewart could take possession wide. Harvey, JT, and Greener were working hard in the midfield to contain the advancing Eastcote and create opportunities for the attacking line up of Pat, Pete, and new boy Jack. Eastcote were the first to strike however with a well worked short corner eventually being converted past Ali. Sonning looked to hit back immediately with some good penetrating diagonal runs from both Pete and Littleboy creating space for Tobi and Greener to carry the ball. A well worked move down the left saw the ball squared to Pat in the D who looked odds to score until he as flattened by the Eastcote keeper! The resulting Penalty Flick was no surprise (the lack of a card for the keeper was) and Pat dusted himself down ready to take it, he struck it true enough low to the keepers right only to see the keeper dash his hopes of levelling the score deflecting the flick out. A jubilant Eastcote side would push forward with more purpose and only some good defending from Matt, a fantastic sliding clearance from that man Nathan Toms, and some agile keeping from Ali kept the deficit to 1. Sonning looked good in possession but were found lacking when chasing the ball down and Eastcote soon capitalised with an undeserved 2nd followed by a well struck 3rd. Sonning were still looking dangerous in possession and Tobi was unlucky to be fouled when Harvey found him in the D, the resultant short corner was unfortunately sent wide of goal.

3-0 down at half time, with the temperature rising Captain Pat called for more from all the players in the half time team talk.

Unfortunately, it was Eastcote who again started the brighter of the two teams and extended their lead with an absolute worldy of a tomahawk into the top corner! Totally unstoppable to extend the lead to 4. With Sonning having to chase the game more and more they were getting stretched across the pitch which gave Eastcote more of an ability to control the game and maintain pressure forcing multiple short corners and it was only a matter of time before one was converted with a thunderous strike from the top right of the D! 5-0. Sonning were again positive when in possession with Gaz and Matt looking to push more forward to help the midfield generals of Harvey and Greener with JT and Tobi alternating as playmakers. The tireless running of the forward line and rapid changes meant that Pete, Littleboy, Pat and Jack were all getting chances. Sonning showed that short corner training really is something that should be attended as they continued to mount pressure and force multiple shorts but failed to convert any of the 10 or so in succession over a sustained 5 minute period. Despite being 5 up the Eastcote team could not keep their discipline and started to see cards coming their way for persistent (and pointless) back chat and complaining. Having made several dubious and possibly dangerous challenges it was the Eastcote goalies mouth that eventually got him trouble receiving a green card. When he finally left the pitch Sonning continued to press and potentially looked to force it a little too hard snatching at a few shots. Alex Stewart started a move playing in Littleboy who took it down the right and then threaded a pass to debutant Jack who calmy took it wide of a defender before slotting home with the goal at his mercy. Sonning looked to build on this momentum when Matt Stevens fired a ball into the D which Greeners got a touch to and thought he had doubled the Sonning tally and reduced the deficit to 3 only to have the goal ruled out as his touch was not seen.

Final Score Sonning 1, Eastcote 5.

DotD = Littleboy for thinking Pat had scored the flick despite him screaming in annoyance the entire Eastcote team cheering the save.

MotM = Jack Evans for a debut goal, a lot of penetrative runs and good ball handling.