What a difference a week makes! Reading YMCA Rapids took Sonning to the cleaners and back again in this Berks and Bucks clash at Pangbourne on Saturday. Sonning currently lie in 4th place in division 1 and came full of confidence against a Rapids side in precisely the opposite form but it was YM who ran out comfortable 6-1 winners in the worst of conditions.

YM started brightly and didn’t let Sonning settle with the tackles flying in from midfield pairing Tim Sidwell and Darren Cornell. It was the latter who made a perfectly timed challenge on the edge of the YM box to break up a Sonning attack which spurred the side on with Sidwell feeding Mr trickster Steve Daly who’s marauding run down the right brought about YM’s first corner. Set pieces always looked dangerous and it was Sean Kenny who delivered a master class in free kick taking by smashing the ball past the Sonning keeper to make it 1-0. YM were soon 2 up when Luke Kasonde battled his way in to the penalty area and cooly slotted home for his 13th  of the season. YM were rampant and it was Sidwell who fed Kasonde with a quick fire counter attack down the left and the former YM skipper raced in to the box to get on the end of Kasonde’s cross but his volley was deflected away to safety by a Sonning defender. At the other end Dave Rolfe and Mark Ilsley were standing tall whilst stand in keeper Adam Cassidy was in commanding form not allowing the away forwards a minute of space when in on goal.

The second period started off with Sonning pressing for the route back in to the game and with the wind at their backs it seemed as though YM were in for a tough half. The away side got the goal their pressure deserved when a lobbed shot looped over the stranded Cassidy after a defensive lapse. YM were now defending for their lives and a few more scares ensued from set pieces but the pivotal moment came on the hour mark when a Steve Woodrow cross cum shot was spilled over the line by the hapless Sonning keeper and YM had a bit of breathing space. With the away side pressing, the game was made safe 5 minutes later when Kasonde grabbed his second to make it 4-1 after another mix up. Supersub Steve Wood then got on the scoresheet, finishing a flowing move down the left after great work by fellow sub James Atkinson to make it 5-1. Sonning were finished and it appeared as though YM could score at will. Kenny had another effort and Sidwell smashed a spectacular bicycle inches over, but it was down to Atkinson to finish proceedings after Sidwell had set him away down the left, the pacy frontman showed the Sonning defense a clean pair of heels to slot home for YM’s 6th and safe passage throught to the next round.

Boss O Boyle said ‘this is the same group of players that wanted to put last weeks horror show right and they did that via hard work and the desire to win. Everyone was outstanding today and the quality of finishing to put the game to bed showed what we can do to teams at a higher level’

YM RAPIDS: CASSIDY, LEACH, ROLFE, ILSLEY, KENNY, DALY, SIDWELL, CORNELL, WOODROW, D MORRISON, KASONDE. SUBS: WOOD (Replaced Morrison 65), ATKINSON (Replaced Woodrow 70), SUTTON (Not Used)

BOILERS MOM: LUKE KASONDE