4 from 4 and top of the league

South Berkshire battled to a hard fought 3-1 victory over Ramgarhia.

In an early season top of the table clash 1st place South Berkshire welcomed 2nd place Ramgarhia to Cantley Park in what turned out to be a great match. After last week’s goal fest confidence was high and the team was bristling to get out into the pitch. With two debutants (welcome to the squad Mike and Callum) South Berkshire started with great intensity. However, it quickly became apparent that Ramgarhia were going to meet fire with fire and a titanic clash ensued.

Neither team could get a hold of the game in the early stages with both sides trading half chances. Tight defence and solid goal keeping ensured that the teams remained level for the first twenty minutes or so. The game then changed on a penalty corner for Ramgarhia. A sweetly struck shot raced past both the keeper and the postman to give them the lead. A bitter blow for South Berkshire who had worked hard but had not gained any reward for this effort. A strangely misfiring forward line meant South Berkshire never really threatened Ramgarhia’s goal despite getting into strong positions in the oppositions D.

Half time came, and it gave South Berkshire time to regroup. This side is different to the previous seasons and the trust in each other and the system is strong. With a slight tactical change, a higher line and a calmness South Berkshire began to exert pressure on the Ramgarhia defence. Under intense pressure Ramgarhia began to make mistakes. Despite this pressure despite your best efforts, you do sometimes need some luck and South Berkshire received a healthy dose for their first goal. A testing ball into the D from captain Matt Wakefield bounced through and past everyone only for the ball to land at Kai Gordeno’s stick at the far post. With a calmness belying his age the young striker had time to set himself and calmly roll the ball into the empty net. Equaliser scored game on.

Ramgarhia regrouped and pressed South Berkshire putting pressure on the defence for the first time in the second half. With the game evenly poised a significant 5-minute period developed. What can only be described as a worldly save from South Berkshire keeper Scot Rogers (we were surprised as everyone else!!) kept the scores level. South Berkshire then struck with their second goal quickly after. Again, South Berkshire applied the pressure this time winning a short corner. Up stepped debutant Mike Longson to score his first for the club low to the keepers right. 2-1 up, a dangerous score line, South Berkshire played sensible hockey holding on to the ball denying Ramgarhia the possession they crave. The third goal came with about 5 minutes remaining. Another short corner, this time coach Sean Hardingham picking up a rebound to smash the ball into the goal (was it shot, was it a cross? Only he knows), proved to be the decisive blow. This effectively put the game to bed, Ramgarhia tried to throw players forward but South Berkshire withstood without too much trouble to see the game out to chalk up their fourth straight win of the season and keep top spot.

This was an epic battle with both teams playing some great hockey and the result could have gone either way. For South Berkshire, with the front line not really firing, it was great to see other players step up and score the goals. Next week it’s off to play Tring, always a tricky away fixture. Roll on the season.