Match Reports - 01 April 2006

  • First Team

    Fixture
    Folkestone, 01 April 06
    Result
    2 - 3 LOSS ( T Morgan, S Waldrom )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Sutton Valence’s final League game of the season was one delayed from January, due to frozen snow. Folkestone took the initiative by gaining an early lead from a short corner rebound. Valence calmly built their game and soon equalised from a good passing move that started from the defence, which Tom Morgan finished clinically.

    The game then took another adverse turn when Folkestone went 2 : 1 up with a scrappy goal, but Valence equalised before half time through a Steve Waldrom reverse stick hit from a short corner. Sutton Valence came out positively, playing well through the second half, pushing Folkestone back and forcing them to try to find chances to counter attack. During this phase of the game Valence missed several very good chances to go ahead and were left to regret this when Folkestone again scored from a short corner rebound, and then managed to block any further attempts by the home side to at least share the points.

    After closely following the League leaders, Maidstone, in second place for most of the season, Valence ended up in fourth spot, having been overtaken by both Ashford and Eastbourne over the final few games, still by far the best ever achievement by the Club.

  • Third Team

    Fixture
    Alleyn Old Boys, 01 April 06
    Result
    5 – 1 WIN ( C. Bailey 2, F. McVarish, Bouwens 2 )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Sutton Valence started the game against a youthful Alleyn Old Boys in the same style as the previous week – an early goal conceded by a poor start, then Sutton scoring five goals in succession to win the game. Alleyn old boys put pressure on for the first ten minutes with a goal from a short corner before Sutton got into the Game. Increased control through better marking and passing led to a number of opportunities for Chris Bailey before he scored towards half time.

    The pattern continued with a well taken goal by Fred Mcvarish at the start of the second half - and as bailey got another before Bouwens scored twice with the last being the best with a deflection of from a free hit taken by Lee. Sutton thirds finished the season in much better form than before Christmas with a number of younger players performing very well – they will provide a firm foundation for next season with Sutton pushing for a top position in the league.)

    Team
    Sharp; Dow; G. Davies; E. Goacher; S. Willson; Lee; Mccrea; Clarke; C. Bailey; McVarish; Bouwens; S Edmed Umpire: J Edmed
    MoM
    C Bailey

  • Fifth Team

    Fixture
    Wellcome Unicorns, 01 April 06
    Result
    1 – 2 LOSS ( S Davies )
    Venue
    Away
    Report
    The fifth team encountered a strong and well disciplined Wellcome Unicorns vets side at a sunny Swan Valley School. The result was a 2-1 defeat but the whole team showed great character and only conceded the two goals in the last quarter of the match.

    As the match started, the team felt that if they could move the ball swiftly round the pitch, the older opposition would quickly tire. The opposite was true and the hosts attacked with pace, moving the ball swiftly from player to player. The defence played exceptionally well during the initial onslaught with Gary Coyle, Mike Nettle and Josh Davies making good interceptions and clearances time after time. When they were breached, Ella in goal dealt confidently with the shots on goal.

    Wellcome became increasingly frustrated and their anger was compounded when a rare but well constructed attack ended with Simon Davies slotting the ball home with a diagonal shot across the keeper.

    In the second half the defence performed brilliantly but the midfield began to tire and more gaps appeared. Still, Wellcome were kept at bay despite winning several short corners. Ella again made important saves from the corners and open play. Thoughts were turning to a most improbable victory when the ball dribbled across the D and two Wellcome stikers combined to roll the ball into the goal. As the game open up Sutton were able to mount more attacks but could not find the space infront of goal to add a second.

    Five minutes from time, with the hosts mounting wave after wave of attacks, the ball was again bundled into the goal. The final whistle sounded and an exhausted team left the pitch. The score was a fair result but it was a disappointment to have got so close to an improbable victory.

    The whole team worked incredibly hard and can hopefully learn from the experience and pass the ball earlier and with more purpose in the next match. A special thanks must go to Liz Talbot who umpired and played one half of the match. Player of the match goes to Ella Corrick, a junior female keeper, who kindly offered to help and who played exceptionally well.

    The Wellcome 4’s form the opposition for the last game of the season. We all look forward to avenging the defeat with an uplifting win.

    Team
    E Corrick, G Coyle, J Davies, I Simmons, M Nettle, B Coyle, J Abrahams, S Davies, D Grace, D Muir, N Hall, L Talbot. Umpire: Talbot and Coyle
    MoM
    Ella Corrick

  • Veterans Team

    Fixture
    Maidstone, 01 April 06
    Result
    4 - 2 WIN ( S Bates 2, D Kennedy 2 )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    A touch of added firepower for Sutton Valence made this match against Maidstone rather more interesting than the often one-way affair, for Maidstone.

    From the off, Valence carried the game to Maidstone putting their defence under considerable pressure but the first goal was won by Maidstone in an ‘against the run of play’ breakout. Unfortunately for Valence the Umpire was unsighted as the ball was actually diverted into the net off a Valence defender’s stick from a shot outside the dee.

    Valence, turned up the pressure to recover from this upset and quickly drew level with a shot from Stuart Bates and then ahead from one from David Kennedy. These two were to score one more each before the end of the game, Bates also had a scorching short-corner strike saved on the line by a Maidstone defender and Bob Barlett’s shot, after a solo run at the defence, would have gone through the net had it not just been wide.

    other deserved goal after a period of some pressure, even if it was off the wrong side of the stick.

    Afterwards Valence were entertained in the Maidstone Clubhouse as the last visitors before its demolition to make way for the new one, ready for next season.

    Team
    Al Burt; David Barton; Will Hoffman; Andy Beavis; Steve Mole (Capt); Bob Bartlett; Stuart Bates; John Knight; Henry Humphrey; David Kennedy; Charles Worsfold; Paul Linaker.
    Umpire: Stuart Weedon
    MoM
    Stuart Bates