Match Report: Mens 3rd XI 2 March

Newbury & Thatcham 2-6 Yateley

On Saturday 2nd March, the Men’s 3s took on Newbury and Thatcham 5 in a fixture we won 3-2 in November.

Expectations were high and in the throngs of a tougher back half of the season, the team were fired up to give it their all and get the win.

We pushed back and the team started off strong, driving the ball around the field well. Within the first 5 minutes we got a short corner and Willie knocked one past the keeper easily to take us to a quick 1-0 lead. A dream start.

Spurred on by the quick goal, the team defended well off Newbury’s push back and quickly regained possession of the ball. The ball was offloaded up to Sam up front who easily had the legs to run past their defence and knock our 2nd in at the 10th minute.

Newbury course corrected well - they pressed high on our defence on 16s and their inners were taking back control of the game. One oppo player rallied them into more shape and control and for the first time in the game, we started to feel the heat. We gave away a short corner in defence and their star player flicked the ball high into the top right of the net to take the score to 2-1. An excellent goal, very well executed. Game back on.

The score held at 2-1 into half time, closer than we’d have wanted it given such an authoritative start from Yateley.

The 2nd half pushed back and we had the bit between our teeth to regain control of the match. Shortly into the second half, Sam drove another one into the back of the goal to take the score to 3-1 to Yateley. It still didn’t feel comfortable - we’d been penalised with a couple of green cards for conduct and stick tackles - the umpires were even handed with their decisions and throughout the match consistent in their awarding of cards. Newbury picked up a couple as well for some grade A stick tackling. Yateley were given another short in the 46th minute for what looked like a deliberate kick of the ball off the pitch. We lined up and Danno bashed one in breaking his YHC goal duck for the first time in 25+ years of playing for the club (or maybe it was 4 years, can’t remember!). 4-1 to Yateley.

We were really back in control of the game and in spite of needing to defend against a barrage of attacks whilst 2 men down through green cards, defence held tight and we came back up to our full number.

Newbury pushed one past us in the 50th minute in response to our goal and the scoreline came back to 4-2.

Time was ticking and in spite of the 2 goal lead, it felt tight. Newbury were playing well, pushing forward quickly and with intent and pressing hard on our 16s. 4-2 felt like 1-0 with 65 minutes left to go, no guarantee of the win.

We carried on driving the ball around the field well. The forwards looked menacing with Chris, Tom, George, Callum and Sam running rings around a slow defence. We started to really work the left to right recycles off our 16s moving the ball around the field at pace before Newbury could even reset. Newbury came back at us and got back into our D. Our defence tackled and shot the ball up the field having weathered a fast attack from Newbury. As they were so high up, we had an overlap and plenty of legs between Brimble and Sam to overcome the 2 on 1 we had accidentally created. The ball went into their D and Brimble was clinical with his finish. 5-2 to Yateley.

The game continued at a fast pace and we continued to play well with everyone contributing. We were awarded a final short corner as the last play of the game through a stick tackle by Newbury. The team raced up field to all be by ready to capitalise, defence and all. The ball was injected to Callum who took a lovely step left and v drag back right, fed the ball to Jason who pushed it into the bottom right of the goal to end the game with a final score of 6-2.

A huge result for the team. The scoreline doesn’t reflect how well Newbury played, they were quick, tight and attacked well. YHC were just on fire and returned to form. Well done gents!

Well done to Callum who pipped MoM of the back of some tight skills, breakneck speed runs and some great passing. DoD - take your pick of the green cards (Jayden/Pask)!