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Match Reports 8 December 2007

• 

  Fixture

  Folkestone, 8 December 2007

  Result

  1 - 3 LOSS ( A Turnill )

  Venue

  Away

  Report

  Sutton Valence Mens 1st XI completed the first half of their Kent/Sussex Regional Division season with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Folkestone. The result leaves Valence in 9th position in the league going into the New Year, a seemingly precarious position but also only 5 points from 3rd spot in a league which has seen a lot of close encounters and teams swapping points.

  On a windswept and rain soaked afternoon, the game was fought out as much in the mental attitude of the players as to the hockey played physically. Both teams struggled in the atrocious conditions and much of the game was played in the middle third of the pitch.

  The first goal went to Folkestone, when a rebound effort on a penalty-corner was bundled home. Valence quickly responded, however, with a penalty-corner of their own: Andy Turnill placing his shot neatly into the back netting. 1-1 it remained to the interval.

  More of the same followed in the second-half, and it was only when Valence tired in the closing ten minutes that the deadlock was broken. A sloppy loss of possession and a subsequent outnumbered defence allowed Folkestone to work the ball into the area for a deflection past Valence keeper Lee Croucher.

  A third goal soon followed to seal the tie, the Valence defence failing to tackle a mazy run into the area by the Folketone striker, who coolly slotted home.

  A disappointing end to the first half of the season for Valence, in which their performances have been up and down throughout and it will be their ability to bring consistency to their game which will determine how the new year pans out for these players.

• 

  Fixture

  South Saxons, 8 December 2007

  Result

  1 - 0 WIN ( B Traggett )

  Venue

  Home

  Report

  The team looked to the captain for inspiration to equip Sutton Valence two’s with another victory this week!

  It was the first game this year Sutton Valence had come face to face with the elements, strong winds and torrential rain made the game difficult to play and umpire.

  After a quick warm up, South Saxons took the push back, both teams starting off the boil. Pushing forward, Sutton Valence made use of their centre players, Lee and Bartlett, passing neat, smart, and quick balls to Porter and Lewell on the wings. Yet all in blue, Saxons were behind the ball, and Sutton struggled to get around the Hastings defence. A few counter attacks were made by Saxons one of which was taken around the Valence keeper and saved by Ife. Of who made a darting run across the face of goal, to cover the area whilst the Saxons player hit the ball in the air at the goal. With minuets to go, in the first half Lee took a pass from a hit just outside the D and slipped it to Traggett, who then slid the ball home to put Sutton Valence in front.

  With the rain still lashing it down, the team analyzed the game so far behind their dug out away from the miserable weather. Both teams started the second half better, shaking off any symptoms of pneumonia.

  Sutton Valence changing Atkins to mid field and Edmed to defence made more space. Valence held the ball the well, with crisp passes around their defence and mid field. South Saxons only reply, was to use the long ball through the centre, this was always cut out by the reds solid defending. The Saxons keeper saved many more shots supported by runs from Clarke, but to no avail. The final result being 1-0 to Sutton Valence.

  Although the weather was terrible, the game was played in the right sprit, by both teams, and thank you to the umpires whom endured the match.

  Team

  A Burt, R Ife, A Mac, J Edmed, C Atkinson, B Tragett, J clarke, N Porter, A Lee, B Bartlett, B Lewell

  MoM

  Callum Atkinson

• 

  Fixture

  Burnt Ash, 8 December 2007

  Result

  3 – 0 WIN ( M Turner, M Russell-Vick, J Bishop )

  Venue

  Home

  Report

  Another fantastic performance this week as the Russets proved that on their day they are a match for anyone in their division. Hangovers and torrential rain were minor obstacles for this ever improving team against league leaders Burnt Ash. Burnt Ash started the stronger but as the game developed the Russets warmed to their task and became increasingly dominant. Solid passing from midfielders Laura Gregory and Emily Bush created several chances on goal from the forward line. Although we won some penalty corners we failed to convert at this point.

  Burnt Ash made a number of threatening counter attacks, coming close to scoring several times. They may well have scored had it not been for either their attackers hitting the ball wide or for Goalkeeper Chloe’s Auger’s outstanding performance as our last line of defence. Player of the match Nicola Andrews was on fire this week in defence not giving up on any tackle until she had won the ball. As half time approached an opportunity opened up for Margaret Turner to make a superb run up the left wing, culminating in our first goal.

  After half time the Russets spirits were running high and the opposition were clearly incensed. As the Russets performance continued to improve throughout the game, the opposite effect could be said for our rivals. Chances game thick and fast for our attackers as Mel Russell-Vick managed to get a touch on Zoe Wright’s top D strike to make it 2-0. Just before the final whistle Jane Bishop redirected a Margaret Turner shot into the goal to complete the scoring.

  This week was an inspired team performance for which every member of the squad deserves credit for. Perhaps the team should celebrate on a Friday night more often.

  Team

  Chloe Auger, Carol Turner, Claire Matthews, Amelia Shaw, Emma Dickenson, Nicola Andrews, Emily Bush, Zoe Wright, Laura Gregory, Liz Talbot, Jane Bishop, Mel Russell-Vick, Sophie Garner, Margaret Turner. Umpire: Peter Davies

  MoM

  Nicola Andrews

• 

  Fixture

  Burnt Ash, 9 December 2007

  Result

  0 - 3 LOSS

  Venue

  Away

  Report

  To say that there was a certain lack of belief that this fixture on grass was still on by early Saturday morning is an understatement. The weather earlier in the week and the rather unfavourable forecast for Saturday made the prospect appear remote, and in any case somewhat uninviting. But good contact had been maintained during the week, leading to a pitch inspection on Saturday morning which confirmed that it was still playable.

  Whilst this did not entirely convince some of the wisdom of playing, with the usual Vets’ fortitude the team duly arrived and found that the weather at Bexley was rather less threatening than back in Maidstone and the game was played without a drop of rain on a pitch which had been well prepared in all the circumstances and which stood up to the use made of it.

  Burnt Ash Vets no longer play as a team in the Grass Conference as, although the match timings and grass surfaces are more like what ‘oldies’ remember hockey was all about, the distances travelled were rather further and some players could not commit every week. They are now spread through the Club, playing League hockey. This meant that, rather like at Sutton Valence, there was a strong nucleus of the 35 – 50 year old ‘younger’ Vets, rather than SV’s not so strong nucleus on the day of mid 50s to early 60s, with the odd one a bit more than that!

  If this all sounds like building up excuses for the game outcome, it probably is, though the game was not as one-sided as the score may suggest. Whilst the home side’s greater familiarity with grass and better fitness gave them a definite edge, they had only managed to go one up by half time. In the second half Valence achieved some better penetration of Burnt Ash’s defence, gaining three or more short corners, none of which was converted. During this period Burnt Ash managed to get two rather sloppy goals but Valence keeper ‘Veg’ achieved another penalty flick save to keep it down to that.

  Whilst Valence’s borrowed forward Phillip put up a spirited performance and Charles Worsfold nearly got his stick on a rocket of a shot that went in from outside the dee, the main credits for the day went to the back four and keeper.

  Team

  Dave Britton; Richard Evans; Gray Smith-Laing; Phil Higgins; Andy Beavis; Steve Mole; Stuart Bates; Nick Willson; Charles Worsfold; Paul Linaker

• 

  Fixture

  Tonbridge Wells, 9 December 2007

  Result

  3 - 1 WIN ( J Stanford, T Edwards, J Watkins )

  Venue

  Away

  Report

  Sutton travelled to Tonbridge School for the second time this season but to play Tonbridge Wells in the Mercian League. In what promised to be a tough game, the weather started damp but thankfully held off from being the same as last weeks soaking. Sutton started well and closed TW down quickly forcing mistakes and creating some good chances. James Stanford and Sam Courtley looking dangerous for TWs defence. However, Sutton were not firing on all cylinders and the normal strength from the mid-field was strangely missing.

  This allowed TW to create their own momentum and the game developed into an end to end tussle between defence and attack. Sutton's James Stanford scored first following some great link play with Sam Courtley and Tom Edwards on the right. However, TWs came straight back and had a number of shots saved by Sutton's defence led by Phil Beech and Will Aldridge in goal. Sutton also had chances, Chris Harrison shooting over the cross bar and Stanford lashing at an aerial shot wide of the goal. TWs keeper dealt well with other shots from Max Ife, Sam Courtley and Tom Edwards. TWs effort was justly rewarded with a great passing move around Sutton's defence and shot in to the goal leaving Aldridge no chance. TWs mid-filed players failing to be man marked by Sutton's mid-field. 1-1 at half time.

  Following a half-time talk which focused on raising the effort from all in the team, pass and move, support and man marking - Sutton started the second half well. The mid-field with Max Ife (Capt), Chigi Patel and James Watkins started to dominate. Use of the wing half's, Edwards and Harrison, saw Sutton retain the ball and keep TW pinned back in their half and Tom Edward was soon rewarded with a goal.

  Again, TW looked dangerous on the attack but Sutton defence held strong with Dougie Muir, Ben Gallafant and Josh Luckhurst dealing with most threats, leaving Phil Beech and Will Aldridge to kill off anything getting near Sutton's goal. Max Ife 'got angry' and started to play well driving through TWs mid-field and setting up good opportunities. Tom Edwards moved well to find space in TWs D and much to TWs surprise Tom placed a perfect pass across the goal for James Watkins to hit in a reverse stick shot.

  With a 1-3 lead it looked difficult for TW to come back but the last 15 minutes of the game saw TWs have a number of opportunities. One shot only saved by smashing into Will Aldridge's head (good helmet..) and over the cross bar. TWs had a goal disallowed for backing in but deserved more for their efforts.

  Definitely a hard game, some of it caused by Sutton's own play, but a great result and deserved win. This sees Sutton completing the first half of the season unbeaten in both the Mercian and Kent leagues, with only 2 goals scored against them and a total of 40 goals for. A great team effort for everyone involved. A Big thank you for the supporters and drivers. Have a fantastic Xmas and well earned rest.