Newbury complete their revenge as Birch Hill fortress falls

This weekend South Berks 3s played Newbury and Thatcham 3s at Birch Hill. Newbury and Thatcham 3s sit comfortably at the top of the table and having lost to them already this season we knew it was going to be a tough game.

South Berks started of strong and both sides were playing simple, the home side under pressure from the start but quickly responding to it with some excellent short sharp passing moving the ball up the pitch. Chris and Aaron both with 1v1s with the Newbury keeper unable to complete some great quality hockey but unfortunately South Berks went 1-0 down but reacted brilliantly as a few minutes later Shaggy deflecting a ball in from Will and Chris deflecting from Mike, scored 2 goals in quick succession to make the score 2-1 at half time.

Going into the second half the gameplay was much more scrappy and neither side were stringing more than 5 passes together before an interception was made. Despite this, Newbury and Thatcham managed to score 2 solo goals from the same player who dribbled through defenders and round our keeper to make the score 3-2. South Berks fought hard to try and get a goal back but after a few shorts and open play opportunities we couldn’t convert. Newbury and Thatcham had one last counter attack where one of their players had ample space in the D and took a shot which went top bins making the final score 4-2 to Newbury and Thatcham.

Goals: Chris and Shaggie

MoM: Bailey- consistently making goal saving tackles/ interceptions at CB

DoD: Alex - Almost ran on to the pitch without his stick.