Match Report: Men’s 2nd XI 30 Sep

South Berks 2-2 Yateley

Week 2 South Central Mens Division 5 North sees South Berkshire 4’s face Yateley 2’s.

Both sides come into this match unbeaten and with their sights set on topping the league early on.
South Berkshire, being newly promoted, have something to prove. The stage was set, the crowds gathered, the weather was warm and breezy and anticipation filled the air. The whistle blows to start the match and off we go, well off South Berkshire go!

They start out dynamic despite a pitiful warm up almost catching Yateley by surprise. After some strong passage of play South Berkshire manage to secure the first short corner of the game.
The crowd went silent, pressure was mounting, both teams ready themselves. South Berkshire inject, slip once, slip twice, shot on goal….oh no.
Yateley suffer the first blow, and have to retrieve the ball out of the back of the goal. 1-0 South Berkshire, what seemed to be a simple well practised short corner routine has drawn first blood after 5minutes. Let’s hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Yateley restart the match passing the ball around, trying to calm their nerves and find their groove. James Sealey can be heard by all, controlling the team and setting positions for Yateley to deploy their newly discovered press.
More passages of plays from both teams, shipping the ball all over the pitch. Yateley start to implement their training; forwards making good leads out wide, some balls reaching them, some cut out.

It’s a varied game of success at this point and that can be said for both teams. It’s apparent that the crowd is getting anxious; Yateley are still trailing, and time is ticking on.
Short corner Yateley, is this our chance? Yateley set their new double castle tactic and South Berkshire seem worried, they have good reason to be. A bullet of an injection, a clean stop and up steps Liam Coxhead, he collects the ball and releases a drag flick from the gods… some say it was unstoppable from the moment it left his stick…GOAL YATELEY, Liam levels the score on 30minutes, back in the game. LETS GO!

The second half starts and similar passages of play continue from both teams. Pressure is applied from both teams with no end result.

South Berkshire are awarded a number of short corners which were brilliantly defended by Yateley, but sadly all good things must come to an end.
Another South Berkshire short corner and this one is converted, the strike was towards the right post. There were whispers that Kev Brown may have had the final touch taking it out of reach of Callum, but these may also be vicious rumours.
Sadly however the score line has changed in the favour of South Berkshire 2-1. Yateley are left to chase a goal for the second time in this game if they want to keep their unbeaten start to the season.
The ball is zipped around by both teams with both teams having good periods of possession, but ultimately rumbled by better defensive efforts or loose passing.
A good passage of play for Yateley finds Oli King in possession with 2 Yateley players in the South Berkshire D, he drills a pass just left of the P spot, so precise that the defence were unable to intercept, the ball is collected by Craig Pearcy on his right hand side, everyone holds their breath, could this be it?! PEARCY!!

….An immaculate turn from the captain and a well placed finish to level the score again with 2minutes of the game left, a sigh of relief is breathed by all (except South Berkshire).

The match restarts yet again and it’s clear South Berkshire are frustrated, resulting in their captain being shown a green card. Yateley however were unable to capitalize on having an extra man on the pitch as the full whistle blows within about 30seconds.

Game over.

A very average played game by both teams. For Yateley, it could have been worse, but it very much could have been better. With that said Yateley fought hard to come back from behind twice in this game and that shows the determination of this team this season. They take away 1 point this week and secure 3rd place in the league.