Match Reports - 28 January 2006

  • Second Team

    Fixture
    Burnt Ash, 28th January 06
    Result
    0 - 5 LOSS
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    Sutton Valence 2nd string travelled to Chislehurst to play Burnt Ash, and despite preparing well they started slowly. SV matched their opponents in the early stages, but profligacy of possession was to Sutton's downfall. Several times in the first half SV surrendered the ball easily and were made to pay on three occasions. SV went into the interval 3 - 0 down.

    The second half started with Burnt Ash confidently passing the ball for long periods. Sutton managed to survive this period without conceding further. SV then enjoyed their best spell of the game and forced several penalty corners whilst Ash had two players temporarily suspended. Though they went close Valence could not convert this pressure into goals. In the last few minutes Ash scored two more goals to end the game runaway winners 5 - 0.

    Team
    Al Burt, Will Hoffman, Steve Parker, Andy Turnill, John Edmed, Richard Dickenson, Rob Bray, James Clarke, Rob Ife, Ben Tragett, Andrew Lee, Brett Angel
    MoM
    Ben Tragett

  • Fourth Team

    Fixture
    Bromley & Beckenham, 28th January 06
    Result
    2 - 0 WIN ( R Humphrey, M Leader )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    On a partially frozen pitch, Sutton Valence 4ths kept the pressure on the league leaders with a gutsy display against a much changed Bromley & Becks side. Without any of their inexperienced youngsters, B&B were always going to pose more of threat than the team that was beaten by the 4s before Christmas.

    Snow and traffic meant that Valence eventually started the game with only eight men. B&B saw this as their chance to take an early lead and threw men forward in the knowledge that they had plenty of cover at the back. With everybody working hard, Valence held firm as their late arrivals slowly filtered onto the pitch. However, the disruptive start meant that the team looked disjointed and too often resorted to the long ball.

    Just as the 4s were beginning to play some good hockey, Terry Laing turned his ankle and the team once again had to readjust. Good covering by Alex Mcrea and Mark Leader kept a lid on most of B&B's attacks, but a fine triple save by Rob Sharp meant that Valence approached the break on level terms. Half time allowed the 4s to regroup and sort out who was playing where.

    Both teams started positively, playing good attacking hockey. Sutton's defence looked fairly comfortable and the forwards started to look dangerous as the team finally started to string some passes together. A few minutes of pressure paid off as Rupert Humphrey opened the scoring with a fine strike from the top of the D. B&B's heads didn't drop and an extraordinary run of short corners really should have got them back into the game. Facing about 16 shorts in the remaining 20 minutes Valence really dug in and excellent work all-round kept the ball out of the net.

    Ironically, Valence killed off the game with a short corner of their own- Man of the Match Mark Leader cleaning up following a mad scramble on the line. Some good saves by the B&B keeper meant that the score remained at 2-0 and Valence fully deserved the 3 points and the clean sheet.

    Team
    R Sharp; K Henderson; J Wilmott; G Davies; A Mcrea; D Thompson; M Leader; D Loft; R Humphrey; B Bouwens; J Counsell; T Laing
    MoM
    Mark Leader

  • Ladies 1st Team

    Fixture
    Greenwich Polygons, 28th January 06
    Result
    1 - 1 DRAW ( S Lacey )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    Sutton Valence Ladies endured a tough game against Greenwich on Saturday. After a long journey to Greenwich due to some confusion about which pitch to play on Sutton Valence found themselves with a real battle on their hands against Greenwich. From the start Greenwich played with fire in their eyes and in the first half Valence didn't seem to match this passion to win. After several team attempts at goal Sarah Lacey finally tapped one in from a goal mouth scramble.

    The second half saw renewed enthusiasm from Valence, but unfortunately this was matched by Greenwich who managed to convert one of their few opportunities at goal. This conversion was only after a spectacular save from Valence keeper Riona Evenden and some hearty defending in particular from Nicola Leggat.. Other exceptional individual performances came from player of the match Georgie Pares, who was instrumental in pushing Valence forwards in the last few minutes of the game and Holly Stamp, who made numerous runs up the right wing.

    Team
    Riona Evenden; Georgie Pares; Emma Donkersley; Penny Tragett; Sarah Leggat; Sarah Lacey; Emma Dickenson; Carol Hazelton; Kiralie Pares; Holly Stamp; Nicola Leggatt.
    MoM
    Georgie Pares