Match Reports - 05 November 2005

  • First Team

    Fixture
    Eastbourne, 5th November 05
    Result
    1 - 0 WIN ( S Waldrom )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Valence edge top of the table clash

    Eastbourne arrived at Sutton Valence sitting one place above the home team in second place on Saturday morning.

    The game started with Eastbourne having most of the possession and also the territorial advantage with SV looking to hit the visitors on the counter attack. SV slowly gained a foothold in the game with striker Waldrom going on some mazy runs into the opposition D only to be foiled by keeper or defender. Just as Valence were enjoying a good spell of possession they lost influential midfielder, Chris Back midway into the first half through injury which seemed to create more space for the visitors as SV lost shape and momentum. Eastbourne were unlucky not to go into the break in the lead as somehow the game remained goal less.

    Valence re-grouped at half time and came out for the second half with real belief that they could snatch a win and leapfrog their opponents in the league standings. The solitary goal came early on in the half as great work from Morgan down the right lead to the ball reaching Waldrom in the D, who coolly slotted the ball high into the net. As the game continued and Eastbourne looked for an equaliser, SV were back where they started, defending deep and looking to hit their opponents on the counter attack. From one such attack they were unlucky not to score again as Possnette saw his flick fly just the wrong side of the goal.

    For the last ten minutes of the match, Eastbourne were camped in the SV half and had many an opportunity to score but couldn't seem to hit the back of the net. This was mainly down to wayward finishing and SV defenders putting their bodies on the line to stop Eastbourne getting their shots away. Eastbourne can feel hard done by as they deserved at least a point from this game but Sutton Valence won't be complaining as they now sit second in the league, still behind leaders Maidstone.

    Team
    Croucher, Back S, Worsfold, Johnson, Back C, Possnette, Bray, Morgan, Willson, Kirkham, Waldrom, Jones, Turnill
    MoM
    Nick Worsfold

  • Second Team

    Fixture
    Old Bordenians, 5th November 05
    Result
    2 - 3 LOSS ( B Angel, A Lee )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    Sutton Valence travelled to Old Bordenians for a well contested match, though once again Valence feel they should have won it, having plenty of chances, even shooting wide from an open goal.

    Sutton Valence didn't start well and deserved to go one down after the first ten minutes. However they fought back well, with Bob Bartlett and Andy Lee mastering the mid-field and Brett Angel scoring their first. By half-time the game was set at 2 : 1 to Old Bords.

    The team agreed at half time that all they needed was to play with more commitment resulting in everyone appling themselves a lot better. This allowed Sutton Valence to control the game, with Old Bordenians sitting back and waiting to attack on the break. A defensive cock-up by Andy Mac and Rob Ife resulted in Old Bords third goal, but Valence made a quick reply with Andy Lee deflecting a great shot in from Man of the Match Brett Angel. The remaining ten minutes went all Valence's way, but Old Bords kept strong and must have heard the final whistle with a huge sigh of relief.

    MoM
    Brett Angel

  • Third Team

    Fixture
    HSBC, 5th November 05
    Result
    0 - 0 DRAW
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    The 3rds faced an HSBC side with the same number of points in the league so a tough game was expected.

    The first half was evenly balanced with possibly Sutton having slightly more opportunities, with Fred Mcvarish playing well in defence.

    In the second half, Sutton created more attacks with James Clarke putting in some excellent runs. HSBC then hit the post from a short corner move; however a couple of minutes later, Sutton had a goal disallowed from a short corner. In the last few minutes, HSBC pressurised through two short corners, but the Defence managed to keep them out to earn a draw.

    Team
    Stacey; Dow; McVarish; Davies; Paine; Loft; Dickenson; Clarke; Laing; Bouwens; Leader
    MoM
    James Clarke

  • Fourth Team

    Fixture
    Gravesham, 5th November 05
    Result
    4 - 2 WIN ( J Counsell 2, H Atkins, C Henderson )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    An excellent all-round performance against Gravesham, saw the 4th team leapfrog their opponents to claim second place in the league.

    With lessons learned from the two victories last season, Valence altered their usual game plan to combat the unconventional Gravesham formation. This paid immediate dividends when Haimer Atkins was found unmarked in the D - he duly applied the finish to open the scoring. A defensive lapse then allowed Gravesham to level the scores, but Valence continued to press and should have been further ahead at half time.

    In recent matches, the 4th team's lack of a settled line-up meant that they'd struggled to really dig in and finish games off in the second half. However, with many of the team now playing their third or fourth game in a row, Valence were really able to take the game to Gravesham. The solid platform provided by the defence allowed the midfield to dominate possession and repeatedly hit Gravesham on the counter.

    John Counsell grabbed his first goal for the club with a cheeky finish and soon grabbed his second to give Valence a good lead. Gravesham pegged one back, only for Chad Henderson to put the result beyond doubt - following up an attack that he started, Henderson collected the ball at the edge of the D and spanked the ball into corner of the goal.

    Team
    R Sharp; E Goacher; I Simmons; M Nettle; C Henderson; D Thompson; B Grabham; I Bailey; J Counsell; A Lynn; H Atkins; C Bailey. Umpire: S Weedon
    MoM
    Iain Simmons

  • Ladies 1st Team

    Fixture
    Blackheath, 5th November 05
    Result
    2 -1 WIN ( A Kish, S Leggat )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Sutton Valence Ladies remain unbeaten in the 4th division by winning 2-1 against Blackheath on saturday.

    This was probably the toughest game of the season for Valence. Blackheath passed the ball accurately and were quick on the pace proving a challenge for the home side. Valence however were superior in attack. Sarah Leggat, Penny Tragett, Georgie Pares and Anna Kish ran rings round the Blackheath defence and the first half of the game the ball was rarely out of the Blackheath goal area. After multiple shots on target, a goal by Kish just before half time gave Valence the advantage.

    Blackheath were undeterred and came back hard in the second half. A disallowed Valence goal denied Sarah Lacey a place on the scorecard and the scales tipped slightly as a counter attack resulted in a Blackheath goal.

    Valence continued to battle hard and were rewarded as Sarah Leggat capitalised on a cross into the circle scoring Valence's second to seal the victory.

    Team
    Riona Evenden; Georgie Pares; Emma Donkersley; Emma Dickenson; Penny Tragett; Sarah Leggat; Anna Kish; Sarah Lacey; Natalie Higginson; Carol Hazelton; Nikki Leggat
    MoM
    Natalie Higginson

  • Veterans Team

    Fixture
    Canterbury Friars, 5th November 05
    Result
    2 - 1 WIN ( C Worsfold, S Mole )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Canterbury approached the first of the annual trio of games positively, aware that Sutton Valence have the two home games advantage this season they pressed their attack into the Sutton Valence quarter of the pitch trying to take an early lead. Valence played calmly to repel these attacks, and slowly began to string their own passing together better, breaking out to get the ball to their own forwards. By half time there was no score in a pretty even game, though Valence perhaps just edged it on scoring chances not converted.

    The goals finally came in the second quarter of the second half; the first from a Charles Worsfold special near the left-hand post and the second from a clean shot by Steve Mole at the end of a goal-mouth scramble. Canterbury had been challenging at the other end and had their chances but their goal came after Valence's second from a long solo run out of defence and a final superb strike giving Valence keeper, Dave Britten no chance. The final five minutes saw Canterbury upping the pressure to try to at least get the draw, but Valence's defence were in no mood to give any more opportunities and their lead was maintained. Man of the match: Stuart Bates for his tireless harrying of the opposition attack and distribution out of mid-field. He will be even better when fully fit!

    Team
    S Bates; A Beavis; D Britten; R Evans; P. Jackson; J Knight; P Linaker; M Mallett; S. Mole (Capt); J. Posnette; R Sagrott; N Willson; C. Worsfold.
    MoM
    Stuart Bates