Match Reports 15 December 2007

  • Sutton Russets

    Fixture
    Folkestone, 15 December 07
    Result
    2 – 0 WIN ( M Turner, E Sullivan )
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    This week’s game against Folkestone was closely fought from start to finish. The majority of play took place in the middle of the pitch as both teams struggled to gain the upper hand. The defence had their work cut out as Folkestone’s attacking opportunities came thick and fast. Carol Turner’s persistence as sweeper ensured Folkestone were prevented from scoring and Claire Matthews’s impressive clearances gave our attackers a fighting chance on the ball.

    Morgan Neale was solid in midfield feeding the ball up the right wing time and again while Zoe Wright made several strong tackles to help block any Folkestone advances. With only ten minutes left to go Player of the Match Amelia Shaw made a cross to Margaret Turner who slammed the ball home. This 1-0 lead encouraged the Russets to bombard the Folkestone defence leaving them no chance to clear the ball out of their defending quarter.

    In the final seconds of the match, yet another excellent cross from Amelia Shaw culminated in our final goal, which saw the ball fly high into the net from a top D strike taken by Emily Sullivan.

    Team
    Chloe Auger, Carol Turner, Claire Matthews, Amelia Shaw, Emma Dickenson, Nicola Andrews, Morgan Neale, Zoe Wright, Liz Talbot, Jane Bishop, Emily Sullivan, Margaret Turner
    MoM
    Amelia Shaw

  • Veterans Team

    Fixture
    Blackheath, 15 December 07
    Result
    0 - 4 LOSS
    Venue
    Home
    Report

    A very cold but dry day was the setting for this game in which the visitors seemed the more eager to get warm by the level of effort they employed. This resulted in fairly continuous pressure on the Sutton Valence defence through the first half. Too many times Valence’s interceptions failed to get their own attack away, and back came the ball into their own dee. Such breakouts as were achieved, failed to seriously challenge Balckheath’s defence, indeed the first half generally was notable for its total lack of short corners.

    During this period Blackheath went ahead with one solid goal and an easy gifted one.

    In the second half Sutton Valence managed to achieve a greater number of more positive forays into Blacheath’s area, with some even getting as far as their dee. Blackheath continued to mount their own attacks leading to another gifted goal and a conversion of the only short corner when an attempted Valence defender’s block caused the ball to fly into the top of the net beyond the reach of the keeper.

    Sutton Valence did not stop trying and Charles Worsfold only just missed getting his stick on a cross from Paul Linaker when at the left post and then managed to hit the left hand post on a direct shot. Periodic good combining from the mid four of Nick Willson; Henry Humphrey; Stuart Bates and Paul Linaker just failed to find that final pass or shot and aggressive running at the defence by Richard Evans and Peter Jackson equally just lacked the finishing crack.

    Defensively, despite the pressure and the odd failure to clear, there was some effective work done by Dave Barton, Gray Smith-Laing, Phil Higgins and Andy Beavis, whilst Dave Britton kept out other efforts that got through.

    Having enjoyed this pre-Christmas game so much, the Vets play the same team again on the 5th January, at Blackheath. At present this game is due to be played on grass at the Club at 2.15, but could be switched to astro, at an earlier time, if the weather so dictates.

    Team
    Dave Britton; Dave Barton; Gray Smith-Laing; Phil Higgins; Andy Beavis; Peter Jackson; Henry Humphrey; Stuart Bates; Nick Willson; Paul Linaker; Charles Worsfold; Richard Evans.