Sonning 0 0 Bracknell

Half term once again deprived Bracknell of number of seniorplayers, leaving captain Tom Withey with just six players from his regular squad. The Bracknell side was therefore once again supplemented with Luke Hadley and Dean Baker from the 3s, along with Ben Ragget and Rob Attryde, both from the third team and both making their debuts at this level. The final additiona was former captain Steve Williams from the terriers who lent the side has calm assurance at left back. Sonning too were depleted of regular players, and the two sides were very evenly matched.

The first half was mostly an attritional midfield battle, with neither keeper tested. Up front, Bracknell were reliant on Hadley and Badley, although neither player regularly plays up front. It showed, as Bracknell lacked a cutting edge up front, despite tireless work from their two makeshift forwards. Given that there was only one goal in this fixture in the first half of the season a goal fest was not expected.

The second period was more open, possibly due to some tiring legs on both sides. And Sonning always looked the most threatening. It always looked a game in which one goal would probably be sufficient for the victory, and it was always Sonning who looked the more likely to get the goal, although ironically enough the closest they came to scoring was from Bracknell defender Ashley Holden off whom a short corner ball deflected and just narrowly beat the far post.

In the end then, seventy minutes of hockey, played in a competitive but friendly manner, yielded no goals. The point will boost Bracknell’s confidence going into the final month of the season, but they know they will have to start picking up wins soon to climb out of the relegation zone.