Match Report: Men’s 1st XI 30 Sept

Reading 2-2 Yateley

After an unbeaten pre-season, Yateley Mens 1s arrived at Reading for their first league game of the season with some confidence. Despite missing a few players, including GK Will Sealey, who had damaged his fingers attempting to play Netball. Pre-match talk was positive and James Woolner and Sammy Whenman were welcomed into the squad.

The game started at a high pace, both teams keen to move the ball and play some good hockey. The press was working well for Yateley with Darren Collins winning the ball from a Reading midfielder and surging forward; the ball eventually coming to Jacob Sealey who unleashed a reverse stick strike into the far corner to give Yateley a deserved lead.

Yateley continued to move the ball well, playing with confidence, but Reading are a good side and pushed forward at every opportunity.
They won a short corner and, despite Ben Faulkner getting to the top of the D, the ball rebounded to a Reading player who copied Sealey and his reverse stick strike found the back of the net.

Shortly after, another Reading short corner resulted in a similar outcome. Yateley responded well, a short corner from Dougie Joyce being deflected wide and a well hit shot from Sammy Edwards being deflected off the goal line by a Reading defender.

Despite having a lot of the ball, Yateley found themselves 2-1 down at half time. The team talk remained positive, and the second half started with Yateley attacking. Captain, Chris Hogg, received the ball and shot from a tight angle. The goalkeeper saved, but the ball rebounded to Hogg who squared for Craig Boorman to level the scores.

From here, it was an end-to-end game for the next 15 mins, with neither team creating a clear-cut chance.
Whenman produced a couple of saves when required and Reading gained a lot of possession towards the end but solid defending, especially from Faulkner at short corners (who received a ball to the mid-thigh), kept Reading at bay.
The game finished 2-2, a fair result and a good performance against a strong team for the 1s first outing of the season.