Monarchs beat the league leaders

The Monarchs ended their recent losing streak with a brilliant performance against the league leader Wootton. The game started off badly for the Monarchs with Wootton up within the first couple of minutes with a very quick attack straight down the middle with the Wootton striker dinking the ball over the keeper for 1-0. Heads did not drop and the Monarchs slowly started to play in a much more disciplined fashion with some early balls to turn defence into attack down the right-hand side with Duncan and Richard and also with some good work on the left by Zac. The team were soon on level terms when Zac played a long ball down the left-hand side of the pitch which pretty much everyone believed was going out for a Wootton 16. Flynn showed some great determination to chase the ball down and keep it in and found Viren with a great pass who in found Richard on the right to end the move with a great shot past the keeper. An unfortunate defensive error gifted Wootton a second goal putting the score at 2-1 at half-time. The Monarchs came out in the second half with fighting spirit and thanks to a combination of some constant closing down by Colin and JC in the middle and good movement down the wings from Clint and Richard, the team seemed to disrupt Wootton's previously solid formation which started to open up much more. The numerous attacks led to a series of short corners and one of these led to the second goal for the Monarchs. It was Flynn once again who picked up the ball on the right in the D and found JC who was waiting at the back post to pull the team on level terms. It was from another short corner that Monarchs finally took the lead with Colin firing home with a cracking shot from the top of the D. A penalty flick was awarded from yet another short corner which Richard's shot was blocked on the line by the Wootton defender. Viren's penalty flick effort went wide of the left post so the team had to wait to seal the win. This came only moments later when Zac played a good early ball to Viren from left who turned the defender and found Tim in the D who took a touch before scoring inside the far post. The team then held firm and the whole Monarchs defence should be commended for stifling a number of Wootton short corners as well as dealing well with some extremely quick and skilful forwards who didn't seem to be as effective at all in the second half when faced with a very solid back 4. Dave Hannon also played excellently having stepped into goal for this match with some good saves throughout. This was a great team performance and a fully deserved win that should give the team the confidence to take into the next match v Slough. Well played to all 14 players involved.