Match Reports - 17 December 2005

  • Fifth Team

    Fixture
    Clifftonville 5ths, 17th December 05
    Result
    3 - 3 DRAW ( D Grace 2, L Davies )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    The 5th team lined up against a Cliftonville XI to play it's second ever game.

    A scrappy first few minutes saw Valence produce the better hockey. After several chances had been missed, Lyndon Davies found himself with plenty of time to pick his spot and put Valence 1-0 up. Cliftonville drew level, but Valence kept at it and Danny Grace soon put the 5ths back in the lead - popping up on the back post to nudge home an accurate cross.

    The second half saw Valence repeatedly frustrated by the opposition's stand-in 'Keeper. Danny Armstrong in goal for the 5ths made several fine saves before some poor defending allowed Cliftonville to register two quick goals. Valence continued to threaten, but it was only in the final minute that Danny Grace appeared unmarked in the D to prod home the equaliser.

    As well as Man of the Match Danny Grace, Phil Beech and Ben Coyle both had excellent games.

    Team
    D Armstrong; B Coyle; A MacVarish; Phil Beech; S Davies; C Bailey; H Atkins; C Atkins; D Grace; L Davies; J Davies; F MacVarish; R Sharp
    MoM
    Danny Grace

  • Veterans Team

    Fixture
    Burnt Ash, 17th December 05
    Result
    1 - 4 LOSS ( C Worsfold )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    Last week's report could almost be re-used - 'another of those testing matches on grass, in which Sutton Valence came out distinctly second best'. Again 2 : 0 down by half-time, as Valence faced the setting sun and took time to get used to the pitch conditions, they had created opportunities which might have led to conversion, but Burnt Ash's defence were effective at cutting the ball out at the critical moment. Ash's goals resulted from a disputed free hit and a mis-hit shot which trickled through the keeper's legs!

    The second half opened fairly disastrously for Valence, as two almost identical well struck balls straight through their defence were picked up and clipped past the keeper before he had chance to move in the first ten minutes. This gave Sutton Valence a serious challenge to avoid a 'white-wash', and greater effort through mid-field helped create more sorties into the Burnt Ash dee. Many of these attacks faltered in the final stages, though there were some shots just wide and one into the wrong side of the side netting. The penalty corners gained unfortunately went unconverted.

    Then Charlie Worsfold struck again. From a goalmouth mix-up the ball suddenly appeared behind the Burnt Ash defence and before you could shout 'Behind you' in best Pantomime fashion 'Buttons' Worsfold was onto it, like a whippet onto a rabbit, and clipped it past the keeper. The game continued for another ten minutes without further change to the score.

    Team
    Barton (Capt); Bates; Britten; Hoffman; Jackson; Knight; Leader; Linaker; Willson; Worsfold. (plus ANO loaned player from Burnt Ash). Umpire: Stuart Weedon.
    MoM
    Charles Worsfold