Match Reports 01 March 2008

  • First Team

    Fixture
    Worthing, 01 March 2008
    Result
    1 - 1 DRAW ( C Back )
    Venue
    Report

    Sutton Valence hosted high flying Worthing on Saturday looking to pull away from the relegation zone. Both teams started at a fast pace and with Worthing questioning every decision Valence took advantage and mounted some good attacks to no avail in the first half. Good defending from Worsfold, Willson and Steve Back keep Worthing at Bay in the first half to keep the score at 0 - 0 going into half time. With skipper Chris Back sat on the bench for the start of the second half Worthing began to dominate and deservedly took the lead through a well worked penalty corner.

    Valence knew something had to change so Back came off the bench and played in an unfamiliar role upfront. Down to 10 men after a mix up with Valence having 12 men on the field at one time thanks to Fred "Ant & Dec" McVarish's inability to get off the field, Valence equalised through Chris Back after a great finish at the back post after a through ball from Bray. Back should have scored again but was bundled to the floor from behind with just the keeper to beat only to see the umpire award a penalty corner. The game ended with both teams attacking but unable to penetrate some solid defence. Valence go to Tunbridge Wells who sit 1 point behind them in the league.

    Team
    Croucher, S.Back, Willson, Worsfold, Bray, Lampp, Back.C, Morgan, Angel, Turnill, McVarish, Johnson, Fraser

  • Third Team

    Fixture
    Burnt Ash, 01 March 2008
    Result
    2 - 0 WIN ( M Leader A McVarish )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    The third team for this week travelled to Burst Ash, whom were a couple of places below us. The match was quite evenly matched for the first 20 with both teams playing well, Ash gave us no time on the ball and we couldn’t get that vital attacking ball. There were a few misses by the Valence strikers but we all knew that the goal was going to come soon.

    Some great midfield play by Leader, Tont and Josh kept the midfield tight and kept the ball in the Ash half. After some pressurising the goal finally came, Tont had it on the top of the D and a wonder strike placed it right in the bottom corner to put Valence 1-0 up. Tonto’s ninth goal for the club EVER!

    This raised spirits for Valence and enthusiasm and effort was regained amongst the whole team. Sutton kept up this effort and then the second goal came from some good attacking play and then finally being finished of by Leader, combined age of the goal scorers, about 90.

    Ash started to become frustrated and without any strong strikers to place the ball into the net some strong tackles started to happen to Wilf and Chris Stille, who gave the striker the old “Ooooo, get you!”. For the second week running, the central dynamo got green carded again for some retaliation.

    Valence ended the game 2-0 up and with heads held high from last weeks loss to Herne Bay.

    Team
    Rob Sharp, Phil Beech, Hamish Dow, Will Hoffman, Josh Davies, Mark Leader, Andy McVarish, Ben Gallafant, Chris Stille, Bert Bouwens, Chad Henderson.
    MoM
    Andy McVarish

  • Fifth Team

    Fixture
    Ashford, 01 March 2008
    Result
    6 - 2 WIN ( D Grace 3, P Bramall 2, J Abrahams )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    The closure of the M20 lead to an interesting cross country drive to Ashford. Eventually 11 players assembled but with earlier delays the match started almost an hour late. Both teams started the game in a lackadaisical fashion and attacked but with little real pressure being applied to the goal. Valence began to establish dominance and eventually after some sustained pressure scored from a P flick. Phil Bramall expertly guiding the ball into the net via the keeper’s foot. Several good penalty shouts were turned down and then a second goal came just before half time from the Danny Grace poaching position.

    The play in the second half continued to be disjointed and the low sun made it difficult to see the ball and opposition players. However, swift attacks and hard shots at goal were deflected into the goal at regular intervals and the score eased up to 5. Ashford staged a mini revival courtesy of a dubious penalty corner strike and then a defensive mix up which allowed the skillful young home striker to round Olly in goal and tuck the ball away. Not to be outdone, Valence continued to press forward and James Abrahams finished the scoring with a beautiful solo effort.

    This was a satisfying win despite the fact that the team did not appear to be firing on all cylinders. Congratulations to Danny for scoring a hat trick. We welcome Wellcome for our last home game of the season next week and hope that we can finally find the rhythm that was evident up until Christmas.

    Team
    Olly Aldridge, Iain Simmons, David Barton, Nick Hall, Dan Mansfield, Phil Bramall, Bob Sagrott, James Abrahams, Danny Grace, Jack Davies, Nick Gray. Umpire: Ashford
    MoM
    Bob Sagrott

  • Ladies 1st Team

    Fixture
    Dartford, 01 March 2008
    Result
    3 - 1 WIN ( A Kish, N Leggat, S Lacey )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Sutton Valence Ladies hosted Dartford this week. The vistors started the most spritely team, but it wasn't long before Valence found their stride and stepped up the pace. Valence built their attack from the defence. Caroline Lawton made several charges through the midfield which allowed Anna Kish to open the scoring mid way through the first half. Nikki Leggat followed suit, neatly converting a pass from Sarah Lacey.

    The second half was more even. The Dartford players pressed hard and Carol Hazelton, Natalie Higginson and Zoe Wright battled hard at the back with Wright clearing one from the back line - now her speciality! Several attacks from Dartford were met with clashing Valence sticks, giving the visitors opportune penalty corners. Only one of these resulted in a goal, leaving a one goal deficit between the two sides. This didn't last for long though, as a strike from Emma Donkersley at the other end was swiftly disposed of by Sarah Lacey to give Valence their third goal.

    This was a better result for the home side than previous weeks, but maybe a little too late to start a bid for promotion at this stage of the season.

    Team
    Carol Turner, Carol Hazelton, Caroline Lawton, Emily Bush, Zoe Wright, Natalie Higginson, Emma Donkersley (c), Nikki Leggat, Anna Kish, Georgie Pares, Sarah Lacey

  • Sutton Russets

    Fixture
    Blackheath, 01 March 2008
    Result
    3 - 0 WIN ( M Turner, S Garner )
    Venue
    Away
    Report

    After a long week getting a team together for this weeks game, Sutton Russets pulled together and produced a fine performance, ending with a great result.

    From the start to the finish, the Russets predominantly had the ball with lots of opportunities to score. Within the first 10 minutes of the first half, Margaret Turner opened up the lead with a strike from the edge of the D. The Russets produced a great team performance with some excellent passing from defence providing lots of opportunities to the mid field and forwards.

    The new sister duo to the team, Fran and Gina Scott played extremely well and worked well together as right half and right defence. Sophie Garner provided the second goal with a great deflection from Margaret's pass across the D.

    The second half, the Russets still had all of the forward play however Blackheath did persevere and made some breaks with the ball but the Russets defence were too strong and stopped them in their tracks everytime.

    A great team effort from the Russets this week who were well deserved with the victory.

    Team
    C Matthews, M Neale, M Turner, C Turner, L Talbot, N Andrews, S Garner, F Scott, G Scott, M Russell-Vick
    MoM
    Margaret Turner

  • Veterans Team

    Fixture
    Chelmsford Evergreens, 01 March 2008
    Result
    5 - 1 WIN ( S Bates 2, C Worsfold 2, R Evans )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    Chelmsford continued their tradition of being strong opposition for SVHC Vets, controlling the first 10 to 15 minutes of the game. Only stalwart and skillful defence, with the odd bit of luck, prevented them from scoring. Sutton Valence then pushed themselves off the back foot, to control the rest of the game. All players moved into space, ensuring repeated smooth passing that developed flowing attacks into the Chelmsford dee.

    While Chelmsford shots on goal were either thwarted by good goal-keeping, or sent wide by the attackers, SV attacks found the target. Perhaps the most notable goal, and certainly the one that stunned the crowd into silence, was that by Charlie, who dodged tackles, stormed into the dee, then reverse-sticked it round the keeper before popping it into an empty goal. A superb team performance.

    Team
    Dave Britten, Dave Barton, Gray Smith-Laing (c), John Knight, NickWillson, Stuart Bates, Henry Humphrey, Steve Mole, Richard Evans, Charlie Worsfold. Umpire: Ian Simmons - to whom the whole team is grateful