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Match Reports 23 January 2010

• 

  Fixture

  Lewes, 23 January 2010

  Result

  1 - 3 LOSS ( A Turnill )

  Venue

  Away

  Report

  A first game for over a month and it showed ! Admittedly we were playing the only unbeaten side in the league and Lewes should go onto win promotion. Generally we can accept defeat more easily if we play well and the opposition are too good. Lewes were the better side but we were far from being good.

  A fairly even first half resulted in a 2-1 scoreline. Lewes put away 2 good corners as our defence was strong in open play as usual. We were at 1-1 for a while after a fine breakaway move was rounded off with an excellent lifted finished from Andy. We were not helped by going into the break with only 9 men left on the pitch as a result of a lively Umpire being assessed by a counterpart on the sideline.

  The 2nd half was not good for us, we only created 1 corner and did not look threatening.Lewes scored a further scrappy goal and effectively killed off the game.

  Plenty to work on for another tough game versus Worthing next week.

  MoM

  David Brignall

• 

  Fixture

  Burnt Ash, 23 January 2010

  Result

  6 - 0 WIN ( T Morgan 3, A Devlin 2, D Moran )

  Venue

  Away

  Report

  Sutton Valence 2's made the trip to Burnt Ash for their fist game after the festive break. It was evident from the off that both sides had enjoyed the break a little too much with both teams struggling to find their range with simple passes. Valence temporarily forgot they were in their changed strip of yellow and not the normal red and white.

  The first 10 minutes was very frenetic with both sides tackling hard and breaking up any attacks before they had even begun. Midfielders Possnette and Willson soon found themselves having more and more influence on the game and one marauding run from Willson ended in a simple tap in for Rhino in the centre of the goal. Rhino in his usual way attempted to miss from 2 yards but somehow found the unguarded goal to put Valence 1-0 up. Tommy Morgan soon made it 2-0 from a broken down penalty corner and Valence began to get into their stride. Any Burnt Ash attacks were snuffed out by Dave Moran, Trig and Space Cadet at the back. 2-0 at half-time soon became 3-0 after the break with another Morgan strike after a goal mouth scramble. Rhino made it 4-0 with a carbon copy of his first goal after good work by Mitchell on the right. As players from both sides tired, space became available all over the pitch allowing Burnt Ash to frequently test the Valence defence which was still holding strong, in no small part to goalkeeper Croucher who made 3 or 4 fine 1 on 1 saves from the lively Ash forwards.

  Morgan completed his hat trick to make it 5-0 with a reverse stick strike in to the far corner. Morgan had clearly seen how not to do it 30 seconds earlier when Rhino attempted a reverse strike from a similar position only to fall flat on his face without touching the ball for it to roll off the back line for a 16. The scene at this point was like something out of a Michael Macintyre comedy show with everyone, even down to the squirrels watching the game from the trees falling about laughing!

  The goal of the game came from Moran who after swapping with Willson in the centre of the park exchanged passes with Rhino on the 25 yard line and drove into the D to coolly lob over the goalie, later admitting in the bar that he was aiming for the other corner!

  The game finished 6-0 and Valence retired to the bar to enjoy a jug bought by Morgo only to find he had gone home, standard Morgo I suppose and the problem is its a one in 10 year event that he scores 3!! Valence now sit joint top with Cliftonville with 2 games in hand.

  Team

  L Croucher, S Parker, D Moran, F McVarish, A Lee, P Posnette, T Wilson, B Angel, L Mitchel, B Traggett, A Devlin, T Morgan

  MoM

  Lee Croucher

• 

  Fixture

  Old Bordenians, 23 January 2010

  Result

  3 - 0 WIN ( B Grabham, R Archer, G Mel )

  Venue

  Home

  Report

  Valance made a strong start to the second half of the season taking 3 points against Old Board's. In a clash that has always proven to be competitive, aggressive and entertaining both sides started well. Valence used the width of the pitch to their advantage with Chris Stille and Gavin Mel making effective runs to the base line to deliver crosses into the gaol area resulting in several saved shots. Old Board's responded with peed and determination only to be blocked by steady defence headed up by matt Oakley at centre back. The first half ended without a goal but with both teams on the edge of breaking the deadlock.

  Valance resumed the second half with increased urgency and started to control the run of play. The midfield of Rick Archer, Mark leader and Ben Grabham controlled distribution to the outside of the pitch for the half's to set up further attacks on goal. The pressure paid off and Valance opened the scoring when Ben Grabham pushed through the top of the defence to score form the top of the D. Old Board's responded but were stopped by excellent defending with a gaol line save from Matt Oakley. The second goal came form midfield as Rick Archer picked up the ball outside the 25 line ran to the top right of the D and smashed the ball through a packed goal area to increase the lead. Valance pushed up the pitch with the majority of their players attacking in the opposition half, including centre back come left wing Matt Oakley. The third goal came from when captain Chad Henderson decided against a reverse shot ( and a fine) to leave the ball for Gavin Mel to drive it in at the near post. Some of the best hockey we have played as a team and individually. Every player can say they had a good game and deserved the win.

  Team

  MoM

  Matt Oakley had and outstanding game at centre back, ( Aaron your in the 4ths now) making some critical tackles and a goal line clearance and passed the ball out to his own side under pressure and contributed to the attacks in the second half. Had a good game all round

• 

  Fixture

  Deal, 23 January 2010

  Result

  1 - 2 LOSS ( J Piper )

  Venue

  Home

  Report

  Valence came into this game expecting a win, having finished the first half of the season top of the league.

  Taking comfort from playing excellent hockey in the first leg at the beginning of the season, we thought having 11 players v the 10 players of Deal would give us the advantage.

  Despite some good play from both teams, and Valence having the best of the play, we were only able to come away with 1 goal, giving us a 2-1 defeat. Disappointingly, this took us down to 2nd in the league.

  Team

  Olly Aldridge; Phil Morris, Iain Simmons, Nick Hall; Bob Sagrott, Nick Gray, Pradeep Parmar, Alex Riddle; Justin Baker, Craig, Jim Piper

• 

  Fixture

  Tonbridge Black Knights, 23 January 2010

  Result

  1 - 9 LOSS ( loaned player )

  Venue

  Away

  Report

  Having not played for several weeks due to Christmas, New Year and the snow, it might have been hoped to have competition for places in the team - dream on! Once again this season the Vets could only muster nine, though this included three stalwarts, Gray Smith-Laing, Stuart Bates and Steve Mole, who were also booked to play in the Vets Cup on Sunday.

  Due to the shortages, communications had taken place with Black Knights which had established that they too did not have a keeper, though they did have extra players. It was agreed to play without keepers and to borrow from them two players.

  The game went along the lines of many of these encounters, with Black Knights building strong attacks into the Sutton Valence half, and these being repulsed on many occasions by the Valence back line with Gray Smith-Laing and particularly Nick Willson having very solid games. But inevitably some of the attacks broke through and once in the dee the lack of keeper made conversions easier.

  Valence's attacks were largely based on breakouts, with Stuart Bates doing sterling work in the middle. But on most occasions the attacks were broken down by Black Knights before serious opportunities could be built. Lack of keepers meant that short corners could not be taken, long corners being used instead, and this lost Valence three possible opportunities.

  In the end the one Valence goal came from one of the more positive moves where the ball fell to one of the provided players, the young son of Tonbridge's Chris, who struck a good shot home.

  Team

  David Barton; Gray Smith-Laing; Chris Dixon, Nick Willson; Steve Mole; Henry Humphrey; Stuart Bates; Charles Worsfold; Paul Linaker. Umpire provided by Tonbridge Black Knights

  MoM

  Nick Willson

• 

  Fixture

  Holcombe, 23 January 2010

  Result

  4 - 0 WIN ( S Garner, E Sullivan, M Turner 2 )

  Venue

  Home

  Report

  Sutton Russets had a 2 player advantage but found it tough to break through the strong Holcombe defence. Gemma Shireby made some good runs up the right wing and her cross into the goal area resulted in our first goal scored by Sophie Garner. Morgan Neale worked throughout the game supporting in attack and defence but all the players had a good game. A good result after a long break because of the bad weather. Thanks to Claire Edmed for playing in goal.

  Team

  Claire Edmed, Morgan Neale, Ellie Grey, Sophie Garner, Gemma Shireby, Carol Turner, Emily Sullivan, Nicola Andrews, Laura Gregory, Amelia Shaw, Margaret Turner

  MoM

  Morgan Neale