Match Reports - 20 November 2004

Fixture

Ashford, 20 November 04

Result

0 - 0 Draw

Venue

Away

Report

Valence battle hard and brought a point home as Faulkner makes first team debut.

Sutton Valence travelled to Ashford looking to carry on the good form shown against BBHC the previous week and to secure further League points. Valence started strongly with an attacking 4-4-2 formation, pushing Ashford back for much of the first twenty minutes. Ashford defended well when required, the Ashford keeper making a pair of fine saves from Peter Posnette.

Ashford’s response was to win a series of short corners which were dealt with well by Valence; the pick of the bunch was heading for the top corner, but was tipped over by Lee Croucher in goal for Valence. Ashford looked to exploit the right wing throughout the first half, but 17 years old Ben Faulkner, making his first team debut, stood firm and not only broke up attacks but also carried the ball forward well.

Tom Morgan missed a great chance to score for Valence when his composure let him down when he needed it most, but the first half came to a close with Valence looking the fresher, with Ashford having done most of the chasing.

The second half started brightly again, but Valence were the team under more pressure as Ashford looked to secure all three points. Valence became more the defensive side for large periods of this half, as Steve Back marshalled the defence well and Ashford’s only real chances came from short corners.

Valence received some relief when the ball was shifted wide left to Rob Bray, as he was able to exploit space and hold the ball up for long periods.

The game finished 0 - 0 and whilst Valence were happy with a point, Ashford appeared less than pleased.
Fixture

Cliftonville, 20 November 04

Result

3 - 0 Win

Venue

Home

Report

This was a business-like start from Sutton Valence, with some excellent early moves and one shot requiring a very good save from the young Cliftonville keeper. Then Valence took the lead when Neil Rogers rounded the keeper and slotted in the opener. Valence didn’t have it all their own way however, with some good pressure and a couple of short corners from Cliftonville, but their defence held, with the score at half time remaining 1-0 to Valence.

The second half saw Sutton Valence turn the screw, with good performances through out the team. Their second goal came early from one of the numerous penalty corners as Neil Rogers feeding the ball back to an unmarked Peter Holmes, who slotted the ball in from a tight angle. With Valence pressing again, some very good passing and movement from their midfield followed by some slick interplay from Mikey Shelton and Ben Dakin saw Peter Holmes slot in the third, after taking the ball off the keeper’s pads and coolly finishing.

Team

Al Burt (Capt); Rob Ife; David Payne; Andy McVarish; Will Hoffman; Brett Angel; Ben Tragett; Neil Rogers; Peter Holmes; Mikey Shelton; Ben Dakin.
Fixture

Ashford, 20 November 04

Result

2 - 1 Loss

Venue

Away

Report

Sutton Valence 3rds lost their unbeaten record 2 – 1 against a strong Ashford side, as despite controlling territory and possession for a fair share of the game, Ashford were the tactically more astute and they defended well.

Valence conceded a goal after 18 minutes through poor marking, and then nearly equalized when the ball went over the goal line only to have the Ashford umpire award them a short corner.

In the second half Sutton Valence increased control of territory and possession but could not get close enough to score, and whilst pushing up in their attempts to equalize, an Ashford break led to a second goal. About 10 minutes before the end of the game Valence put in a well worked move and reduced the deficit with a Terry Laing goal, but could not score again to rescue a draw.

Team

Stacey; Davies; Dow (Capt); Edmed; Loft; Leader; Dickenson; Dodd; Humphrey; Bouwens; Laing; Devlin; Stille.
Fixture

Blackheath, 20 November 04

Result

0 - 3 Loss

Venue

Home

Report

Sutton Valence 4th Xl’s undefeated run came to an end against a well organised Blackheath, who took the lead with an early short corner conversion. Valence struggled to push through the midfield to deliver the forwards a potential scoring pass, whilst Blackheath persisted with fast breaks one of which resulted in a second goal just before the half.

Valence's defence did a good job keeping many of the advances at bay with great interceptions and marking, to keep the score at 2 - 0, until an unfortunate touch made the score 3 - 0 for the finish. Good keeping by Rob Sharp and a valiant effort by the back three defenders kept the score line in check.

MoM

K Henderson
Fixture

Faversham, 20 November 04

Result

6 - 1 Win

Venue

Home

Report

Sutton Valence Ladies enjoyed an emphatic win over Faversham at the new astroturf pitch at Sutton Valence Prep School this week.

Valence were enthusiastic from the off and within ten minutes a penalty corner strike by Carol Hazelton was deftly converted by Penny Webb to open the score card. The second goal was again from a penalty corner, this time struck by Georgie Pares to end up in the back of the net.

The third goal was the first for the opposition, and also the first goal for Valence defender Natalie Higginson! A strike from the Faversham left wing was deflected off the penalty spot by the Valence defender, past the Valence keeper for an own goal, in Faversham’s favour.

The Valence defenders worked hard all match, making very few mistakes and managing to prevent any more goals from Faversham. Valence continued to battle hard and the third goal came from Carol Hazelton once again from a short corner strike on the right post. Penny Webb was tireless in her efforts and worked a determined goal past the pads of the Faversham keeper to score her second and Valence’s fourth of the match. Anna Kish had a great game on the left of midfield and was rewarded when she found herself on the end of a cross which she in turn neatly tucked away for Valence’s fifth. The final goal of the match once again came from Penny Webb in open play, sealing Faversham’s defeat.

A great confidence boost for Valence and a well deserved victory.
Fixture

BBHC, 20 November 04

Result

0 - 7 Loss

Venue

Away

Report

Another challenging grass game for Sutton Valence started quite well, for about ten minutes, with Valence showing spirited attacking from both flanks and up the middle, but with no conversion. Then the game changed and for much of the rest of the half it was BBHC who did the attacking and with some effect as their left wing put in four, all from open play.

During the latter part of this half, Valence’s active keeper, Mick Cook, received a shoulder injury in a heavy fall whilst attempting a save and though he carried on until half-time, he was clearly in pain and then had to come off.

With the usual good spirit of these games, BBHC provided a replacement keeper and then proceeded to try to put as many past him as in the first half! Whilst they did not quite achieve this, they came close, despite Valence having some better attacks too. These won Valence another couple of penalty corners but without result; Mike Mallett’s shots from open play were cleared and even Charles Worsfold’s favourite left-hand post position failed to gain the usual rewards. In the final period Godfrey Palmer probably had the best opportunity when a squared pass to him from the right wing was unfortunately struck straight at the BBHC keeper.

Andy Beavis deserves special mention for some excellent clearances out of defence.

Next Saturday the Vets will take part in a short game on the new astro at Sutton Valence Prep School after the official dedication at 12.30 to the memory of Ian Stainton-James, former Head of the Prep School and President of the Hockey Club.