M2s Win, Refreshed After Break Week

This match report is sponsored by Alex Littleboy, DoD of the game.

Halloween is among us, and Sonning 2s had the terrifying away game at Newbury and Thatcham, not knowing whether the weather will bring us sun, rain or gale force winds.

Gaz also being hesitant at the lights not wanting to go on the green light as he knew what weather horrors Henwick holds.

After a hard few games, Sonning went to Newbury with an only win will do mentality.

To start this huge game, the umpires laid down the law to stop any chat back, with Newbury singling out certain player (no names will be named). As the game commenced both teams had good possession stringing together some strong passes but in the early stages not producing many dangerous opportunities.

Newbury started to come on stronger as they put more and more pressure on our defence, most of which going down our left side giving newcomer Soli Floodgate a tricky time, (If you pardon the pun ?) but he treated us to a fantastic display of resilience not letting any of them through easily. Getting out of our own half proved difficult in these stages forcing Tim Greenbank, to throw some surprisingly good aerials to break the lines. What a hero!

Once Sonning had soaked up the Newbury attacks and composed themselves it was their time to put the pressure back on Newbury, with some great runs from the Forwards and great balls from the midfield! With this good play, Sonning's first chance came from a string of passes where Greeny passed the ball to Pat who threads the needle and put ALB in on goal, with ALB going around the keeper getting horrifically fouled by keeper AND defender to find that there was no decision for him to his dismay. Captain's Sidenote - there was an open goal for him if his toys had stayed in the pram!

The first half continued to be frustrating for Sonning, not quite getting that final part... UNTIL! Greeny channelled his inner De Bruyne to find Pat in the D, and being the 2s captain, occasionally cool, calm and collected as part of the role, oh did he show that in true form when picking the ball on the reverse, dragging past 2 defenders and rounding the keeper to slot the ball in the goal opening the scoring put us ahead just before half time. Sonning ending the half 1-0 up.

In the second half Sonning started strong with high pressure pinning Newbury back, and even when they were able to get out, every ball getting moped up by the Sonning defence, with the away team playing so well with some great runs from another new comer Toby Gallagher making some lovely touches and gliding through the experienced Newbury midfield.

With all the promising play from Sonning, we win a short corner, which goes to ALB at the who flicks it right at the keeper, who then flops and comes off his stick and goes in the goal to put Sonning 2 up. They all count!

After going 2-0 down Newbury start feeling the pressure of the game running away from them and start getting frustrated, They put some good plays together, keeping the defence on their toes. They were winning an abundance of short corners, and were finally able to find the back of the goal to make it 2-1, at this point the game becomes open with the game going from end to end, showing the true runners of the team, in Peter Young and Tobi Challis running back and forward with the play! Although the game at the point is fairly even Sonning are looking the most dangerous with plays starting with Dobbie with his quick sharp movements sending the Newbury players to the shops every time he receives the ball. *Chefs Kiss*

After all the great play by Sonning, composure was key, with passes going where they were intended and finally finding Greeny at the top of the D, who then slots it through to Lappin who is waiting for the ball at the right of the D in loads of space, who then hits the ball at the goal with such power (top edge!) , that again the keeper gets a glove to it but not enough to stop the ball from going in the goal making it 3-1 Sonning.

With this 2 goal lead Sonning ease out the rest of the game playing it safe, giving solid passes, and Gaz getting over the Halloween hoodoo to perform witchcraft with his stick and the ball making his stick dissappear out of his hand in true spooky spirit, to which the final whistle goes and put Sonning Mens 2s back on winning ways again!

MOTM: Soli for stepping up, playing a solid all round game, being a brick wall and showing he's more than capable of playing 2s level.

Honorable mentions to Ali who made some amazing save proving he's not quite past his best yet.

DOTD: ALB for being horrifically tackled in the D and not shutting up about it. Shock.
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