Banbury Bounce Back to Beat Reading
Banbury HC - 3 Reading HC - 1
Banbury HC Men’s 1s pulled off a stunning victory away to table-topping Reading who had been unbeaten all season.
Banbury, who were still smarting from last week’s unlucky loss to Oxford Uni, went at Reading from the start, determined to get a result. The midfield of man of the match, Joe Allen, and George Brooker, Richard Hobley, and George Godwin gave Reading no quarter leaving the opposition few chances in front of goal. Reading couldn’t break Banbury down and was left with just a couple of chances in the first twenty minutes which keeper Kit Lamb dealt with
effectively. Upfront Harry Simons, Captain Will Kellett, and Jacob Buckner Rowley created lots of problems and it was Buckner Rowley who came closest in the first period when, after a goal melee, his shot was unlucky to hit the Reading post. But Banbury got their just rewards after 33 minutes when having won a penalty corner, Josh Nunneley scored with a scorcher of a drag
flick low into the Reading goal to open the scoring. Then Reading got a break from a harsh penalty corner decision which led to a penalty flick to give them a 1-1 draw going into halftime.
Banbury smelt blood and knew the game plan was working and frustrating Reading and so the second half started the same and within Just 3 minutes Banbury won another penalty corner which Will Kellett scored with a vicious drag flick to the bottom left of the goal to go 2-1 up. This spurred Reading to respond but the defence of Pete Lamb, Darsh Theara, Tyson and Josh Nunneley gave them hardly any chances to get into the Banbury D. Joe Allen and Richard Hobley worked like trojans in front of the defence to close off any through passes and deny Reading any opportunities. Then halfway through the second half, Banbury went for the counterpunch plan and caught Reading on the break continually through the speed and agility of Tyson Nunneley and Sam Chadbourne down the Banbury flanks. Eventually, after 13 minutes George Godwin scored the stunning goal of the match with a reverse stick strike from the far right of the Reading D to make it a deserved 3-1 to Banbury.
Banbury had one more scare with just 8 minutes left to go when Reading won another penalty flick, but this was denied by keeper Kit Lamb’s stick and the Banbury crossbar leaving the away team to take all 3 points at the close of play.
Banbury Manager, Andy Camp, said “This was a stunning away victory against top of the league Reading, who have proven to be difficult to draw against, let alone beat! But we came here with a game plan which worked perfectly - and to be fair, we have been very unlucky to lose and draw over the last couple of weeks and so this was payback. The lads were outstanding and, as I said last week, we have nothing to fear in this Premier League. We should be a title contender”. Next week Banbury faces Bournemouth at home.
Photo: George Godwin grabs the 3rd stunner
Photo: Josh Nunneley opens the scoring at Reading