Reading Men 7’s extended their current winning run

Reading Men 7’s extended their current winning run to 4 matches with a good 7-0 win at home to Abingdon 3’s. Having steered through a difficult pre-match start, having attempts at poaching our centre mid and taking the field to realise there were no umpires, captain for the day Russ Gates got the team set up well and the 7’s set off at pace, scoring their first goal within 5 minutes. Abingdon fought back putting in some dangerous looking attacks but nothing that Eric in goal couldn’t handle. The team pushed forward and truly defended from the front. If the ball isn’t in your half you are unlikely to concede! For the second week running the team had a 4-0 lead at half time and without the captain’s half time team talk of ‘I really don’t want to lose it from here’ the team were more relaxed and added a further 3 goals instead of conceding them!

The team had a solid centre with Ian Anderson and Mike Sartorius stifling any moves Abingdon tried. The team was settled and the youngsters were given the time and opportunity to run at the Abingdon defence. Jared, Ben and Harry all running rings around the opposition. Training ground moves saw slick passing resulting in goal after goal for the Reading team. Forwards Zico Chan and Andy Scott both in danger of being fined for jug avoidance, both scoring a solid brace each.

There were many contenders for man of the match but the stand out players were the youngsters. Ben Sartorius coming on at left back after five minutes and continually added to the attacking threat, Harry Lloyd having the confidence to run at anyone, not worrying if he lost the ball as he knew he could ‘harry’ the player and win it back. Jared Allan just nicks the award though, not just for being in the right place at the right time defensively, but for his excellent positional play and ability to make attacking runs which open up spaces for the forwards to run into.

Team: Best, Allan, Daffey, Reed, Gates, Sartorius B, Sartorius M, Anderson, Ray, Lloyd,Scott, Elliott, Chan.
Scorers: Chan 2, Scott 2, Anderson 2, Sartorius M