Match Reports 09 February 2008

Fixture

Brighton, 09 February 2008

Result

1 - 3 LOSS ( M Ife )

Venue

Report

Sutton Valence played host to one of the league’s leading teams. The delayed start did not appear to affect the visitors as much as the home side. Sutton started slowly and were soon defending their own goal. After weathering the early pressure, due in no small part to man of the match goalkeeper Al Burt, Sutton began constructing some good attacking moves of their own and forced several short corners. Valence were unable to convert any of these chances and it was Brighton that took the lead. The goal spurred Brighton on and they doubled their lead just before half-time.

Sutton started better in the second half with good attacking on both flanks, Ben Lewell and Max Ife in particular caused the experienced Brighton defence problems. The second half was very evenly contested and although Brighton scored a 3rd goal, Sutton persevered & were eventually rewarded with a goal for their efforts. Max Ife skilfully beat a couple of defenders at the top of the circle and rifled home a reverse stick shot.

Team

A.Burt, S Parker, R Ife, R Turnill, J Edmed, B Tragett, P Posenette, M Ife, C Atkins, A Delvin, B Lewell, R Bartlett

MoM

Al Burt
Fixture

University of Kent, 09 February 2008

Result

5 - 0 WIN ( M Chalker 4, G Hagon )

Venue

Away

Report

With only bare 11 squad Valence were looking at a tough game against the squad of 16 young and eager University of Kent students who were hosting this weeks game.

Valence quickly gained control of the game leaving the home team shell shocked after new face Martin Chalker scored a Hat-trick within 15 minutes with the help of some dominating midfield play by Gary Hagon, Ben Grabham and Jack Davies created numerous chances. Now three goals down the home side began to wake up (well 2pm is an early start for a student!) and the chances began to dry up, the home side had a handful of chances but these were foiled by the impressive Aldridge in goal. After a clever free hit by Darren Thompson left the Kent defence flat footed Chalker got his 4th goal of the game with an accurate finish at the far post.

In the second half a merry band of supporters joined the action to help the Home side get motivated (never seen 6 people do a Mexican wave before!) and this seemed to work as Valence seemed to lose their killer instinct and gave the students more possession. Good defending by Henderson, Gallaphant and Gareth Davies prevented the Students coming even close to scoring but at the other end the chances were thin on the ground as well. 10 minutes from end Gary Hagon scored the only goal of the half, latching onto a loose ball in the D and hitting a low reverse shot hard into the backboard to silence the crowd leaving Valence with a well earned 5-0 victory.

Team

Will Aldridge, Kyle Henderson, Ben Grabham, Martin Chalker, Gary Hagon, Darren Thompson Simon Davies, Gareth Davies, Ben Gallaphant, Jack Davies, Rupert Humphrey

MoM

Gary Hagon
Fixture

Cliftonville, 09 February 2008

Result

1 - 1 DRAW ( D Grace )

Venue

Home

Report

The match against Cliftonville was expected to be tough, and so it proved. The game was played at great pace and Cliftonville edged the first half and created more chances, eventually scoring with a shot from the top of the circle. Valence upped the pace and began to create more chances. Somehow the ball failed to go in. The first half ended with a missed penalty stroke and two fluffed penalty corners from Valence.

Cliftonville were very mobile in midfield and closed the play down. Valence were still creating chances and forcing penalty corners. Eventually a well worked corner saw Phil Bramall fire the ball home only for Danny Grace to help it over the line. The visitors pressed forward in waves trying for a winning goal but some obdurate defending, and a bit of luck, kept the scores level. Cliftonville also missed a penalty stroke.

Plenty of chances were created and it was strange that the score was not higher. Cliftonville had more attacks but Valence created more good chances. A draw was a good result, especially as four new players were being tried. Numerous players gave their all but the man of the match was awarded to our young keeper, Olly Aldridge. Having played two very tough matches on the trot, hopefully the match next week at Bordenians will be a little easier. Whilst Valence play a regular squad, the results this season are topsy turvy indicating that on occasions some teams are bringing in players from higher teams to boost numbers and gain a win. Two or three more wins this season should see the team edge above the others and reclaim 3rd spot.

Team

Olly Aldridge, Iain Simmons, Mike Nettle, Nick Hall, Henry Leadbetter, Bob Sagrott, Danny Grace, Nick Gray, Dan Armstrong, Phil Barton, Phil Bramall, Ben Bramall, Dan Mansfield, Andy Lynn. Umpire: Richard Ashness

MoM

Olly Aldridge
Fixture

Gravesend, 09 February 2008

Result

2 - 1 WIN ( A Kish 2 )

Venue

Home

Report

Sutton Valence Ladies were at home to Gravesend this week. The first ten minutes were horrendous for Valence. There were more feet than stickwork and the home side could not string more than 3 passes together! Not surprisingly, the first goal was scored by Gravesend. This was the wakeupcall Valence required. The defence, consisting of Chloe Auger, Carol Hazelton, Caroline Lawton, Zoe Wright and Natalie Higginson, worked well together and kept any danger to a minumum. Emily Bush and Anna Kish paired up well on the left hand side and 20 minutes into the game, Valence started to play some better hockey. Shortly before half time a penalty corner routine, and some good Umpiring, gave Anna Kish the opportunity to equalise.

The second half was dominated by Valence. Several penalty corners were awarded and the home side played with a little more conviction. Sarah Lacey enjoyed some good runs up right wing and Nikki Leggat and Caroline Lawton were there in support for the centre link play. A cracking cross in from Georgie Pares was capitalised on by Anna Kish and Valence scored their second goal.

Observation: A well deserved win, but if Valence want to push for promotion this year, then they need to get stronger on the ball and want it from the first whistle. Week on week, the first half is poor and then in the second they perk up.

Team

Chloe Auger. Carol Hazelton, Nicola Leggat, Zoe Wright, Natalie Higginson, Emma Donkersley (c), Caroline Lawton, Emily Bush, Sarah Lacey, Georgie Pares, Anna Kish
Fixture

Cliftonville - Kent Cup Match, 10 February 2008

Result

5 - 2 WIN ( R Humphrey 3, M Chalker 2 )

Venue

Away

Report

An inspired team performance led SV to victory and through to the Quarter Final stage for the first time since the ‘golden season’ of 1993 when Tulse Hill knocked us out in a close match on grass.

A reduced squad took a while to find its feet against a skilful and physical Cliftonville side. Fortunately the team settled after taking the lead through a superb short corner strike from Rupert Humphrey. Although Cliftonville equalised after a defensive lapse, Rupert was able to repeat his party piece and Sutton ended the first half leading 2-1.

The interval saw Phil Bramall depart with blistered feet leaving a gap in the midfield engine room, Mark Leader having done much in the first half to inspire Sutton’s attacks. Iain Simmons was therefore asked to switch from right wing to midfield dynamo and what a job he did. Although Sutton were expecting an onslaught in the second half, a cushion was created early on when that man Humphrey completed his hat-trick with another fine example of penalty corner shooting. Alas the lead was halved all too soon when Cliftonville took a quick free hit, with a very powerful cross finding two unmarked players on the penalty spot; Veg had no chance. The opposition lifted their game in pursuit of another equaliser. The pressure was intense but at least it gave Sutton the opportunity to counter attack and a glorious pass from Mark Leader found Martin Chalker unmarked with only the goalkeeper to beat. The trained assassin (and new signing for Valence) made no mistake, finishing clinically.

Despite Andy McVarish marshalling the defence splendidly, Cliftonville created a number of chances but Veg had the game of his life and saved several near certain goals. In the meantime, a similar move allowed Martin Chalker to put the game beyond the reach of Cliftonville. This allowed John Knight to make a cameo appearance, replacing Rupert who took a well earned rest.

The final whistle was welcome, not least because the team had dug deep to achieve the victory, and there was not much left in the tank.

Man of the Match :- Mark Leader for a peerless performance in midfield. Runners up:- Rupert Humphrey and Veg.

Team

Veg, Nettle, McVarish, Smith Laing, Mole, Bramall, Leader, Sagrott, Simmons, Davies, Chalker, Humphrey.

MoM

Mark Leader
Fixture

Oxted - Mercian South East League, 10 February 2008

Result

11 - 1 WIN ( M Ife 2, S Courtley 4, J Stanford, T Edwards, C Harrison )

Venue

Home

Report

Oxted visited Sutton Valence for this penultimate match in the South East Mercian League and on a glorious spring day, Sutton overwhelmed their visitors in the sunshine. Oxted competed well but Suttons team work, passing and swift forwards made it clear that it wouldn't be long before the goals arrived. Max Ife took the first following a good move down the left hand side and it was soon made two up with Sam Courtley claiming his first of four with a nice reverse stick shot. Oxted continued to work hard and looked capable players but Nick Holmes worked hard in the mid-field closing down and making great tackles to reclaim the ball.

Suttons defence still wobbled on occasions again getting caught flat and finding it hard to run back once Oxted had got through. Oxted looked like the would score following a good short corner move but much to their frustration the ball hit the post and seemed to spin on the line rather than cross over it. James Stanford scored the first of his hayrick to make it 4-0 at half time.

The second half started with a different Sutton team with five substitutions made to the field and Oxted immediately battled and came back in to the game. Sutton's defence and keeper Will Aldridge worked hard to soak up the pressure and as Sutton failed to retain the ball Oxted's enthusiasm grew.

With the following round of substitutions Sutton were back in control and straight away the goals started to come in. Max Ife getting his second, Tom Edwards lifting it over the keeper and Chris Harrison poaching the ball following a keeper mistake. 11-1 to Sutton on the final whistle, a fantastic team effort by everyone and off to the Queens Head for a well earnt pint ....of coke!!