SHC team:	3^rd XI
SHC captain:	Harmeet Najjhur
Match date:	3^rd Nov 2007
Opposition team	Wallingford (Home)
Final Score:	5-1
Scorers and time:	H. Atwal (1) S. Sandhu (3) S. Panesar (1)
Man of the Match:	S. Sandhu
First-half
Trick and treat as Slough soar in style…. Slough 3’s approached this match with confidence high from their recent successes and a 100% record this season. Wallingford were likely to be Slough’s toughest test in this league and so it proved. Slough in their usual format commanded the midfield with both Rav Laly and Sukhi Panesar playing extremely well. Many good attacks were produced but Wallingford were equal to the task. Wallingford like Slough had a mix of some excellent youngsters and seniors. The first half was a display of superb attacking hockey from both sides and neither was able to find a route through particularly due to the solid defensive play from both defences. Slough with a slightly changed back line, Kuljit Bhachu and Parm Sandhu defended well and kept Wallingford out of their “D”. Slough began to create the better chances but could not find a break through until almost half an hour into the game. A foul just outside the Wallingford area saw pitch captain Surjit Sandhu step up to fire an excellent ball into the danger zone in front of the Wallingford keeper and it took the deftest of touches from Slough’s centre-forward Papu Atwal to put Slough 1-0 ahead. Wallingford responded with great character, attacking hard and were soon rewarded with a short-corner a couple of minutes before the half time break. Slough defended well and should have cleared the ball but a rare defensive error gifted Wallingford their equaliser. The teams went into the break on even terms.
Second-half
Slough were boosted in the second half as their normal full-back Harjit Sandhu had made it back from Birmingham. He was quickly called into action and Slough made some small adjustments to the line up. Ashu Sharma at left half stepped up and closed down Wallingford dangerous right wing attack. Both sides fought hard and created chances but open play goals were going to be difficult to score in this game. Slough were rewarded with a short corner after some great play down the left by Apinder Teja. Slough had spotted a gap in Wallingford run-out and planned their short corner with perfection. Rav Laly receiving held the ball at top “D” and as planned rolled it across to Surjit Sandhu who finished powerfully to put Slough 2-1 ahead. Wallingford showed great character and did not let Slough rest. Slough brought on their latest recruit 16 year old Googs Nagra replacing Rav Laly. Googs joined the other youngsters Arron and Amraj and as the seniors tired, the juniors were on hand to provide a much needed boost. Googs played well and created a short corner opportunity for Slough. With Rav off the pitch, Harjit Sandhu stepped up to receive the ball and in a replica of the previous short corner, Harjit rolled the ball across to Surjit who finished in precisely the same style and put Slough 3-1 ahead. Slough looked comfortable but the excellent Wallingford team would simply not give up – there was still a game on here and Slough had to be watchful. Slough too showed their character by taking the game to Wallingford rather than resting on the lead. A goal shot for young Arron was scrambled on the goal line and was stopped from going in by a Wallingford foot; a penalty flick was awarded and Surjit stepped up to finish clinically and notch up his second hat-trick in consecutive weeks. Slough at 4-1 ahead were now in command. Sukhi was excellent in midfield all game and as the game neared the end, he for once took to attack and fired in a superb goal seconds before the final whistle to leave Slough 5-1 winners. There was some sympathy for Wallingford who really were a much better team than the scoreline suggested but the difference really was the finishing and character of Slough in attack and their teamwork. Both teams contributed to probably one of the best games either will play this season. Slough 3’s now top the table with 6 wins out of 6 and a goal difference of +26 – a great achievement so far this season against quality opposition.