Match Reports 21 November 2009

Fixture

Horsham, 21 November 2009

Result

2 - 3 LOSS ( J Pascoe, J Stiff )

Venue

Home

Report

Another frustrating week but a better performance from the 1's. We started brightly and dominated the first 10 minutes with good, quick ball movement. The shape looked better but Horsham packed the midfield and made it difficult to break down their defence.

The play became even and went from end to end and it was Horsham that took a 1-0 lead that coincided with Jedi receiving a lengthy yellow card for a rash challenge. However SV showed better mental strength and equalised just before half time with 10 men with a strong drag flick from James Pascoe that the keeper could only parry into his own net.

1-1 at halftime and everything to play for. Going back to 11 men then coincided with another conceded goal with credit going to their drag flicker who scored a fine goal past Will. SV pressed for the equaliser with good pivotal movement of the ball with Steve Back and David Brignall particularly influential. A cut inside from the left led to Jedi picking up the ball on the run and feeding to John Stiff inside the D who flicked well past the goal to make it 2-2.

A point seemed fair but it was not to be as another cruelly deflected strike looped over Will Fuller and gave Horsham the win with just 2 minutes left on the clock.

So we sit mid placed in the table after 8 games but this match signalled an improvement in our own play and will allow us to kick on from here.

Team

11 and then 10 and then 11, this needs to change

MoM

John Stiiff and Steve Back
Fixture

Old Bordenians, 21 November 2009

Result

3 - 2 WIN ( L Mitchell, A Devlin, M Bowden )

Venue

Away

Report

Valence travelled to Sittingbourne with a 100% record to protect and 5 regular players missing. The game started strongly with Valence keeping possession well and regularly threatening the home goal. However on 10 minutes Bordenians broke down the left from a quickly taken free hit and scored completely against the run of play. Valence then showed why they are unbeaten with Lois Mitchell levelling within a minute. Then Valence showed why their goal difference is so (relatively) low, with the hosts complaining about an aerial Lois Mitchell unchallenged rounded the prone 'keeper and from about 8 meters pushed the ball wide of the empty goal. Shortly after it was the hosts turn to show how to miss an open goal with an attack from the right winger reaching the by line Burt slid out to cover only for the ball to be passed backward and past him and with the goal at his mercy the home striker put the ball to the left of the goal. So the score remained 1-1 at half time.

The second half started with the old boys playing a better brand of hockey and keeping the ball on the ground. This tactic worked better than the aerial bombardment of the first half and saw them maintain possession and win several penalty corners. However after 10 minutes from an attack down the left Posnette fired a cross shot to the right hand post which Marcus needed to finish from around 10mm. With around 15 on the clock Lois was sent off (somewhat harshly he felt) for what was seen as a deliberate back stick in the opposition half. Sutton shut up shop for the 5 minutes they were down to 10 and kept the game at 2-1. With his reintroduction came the breathing space of a 2 goal cushion. Excellent team work on the right from Johnson, Willson, Posnette and finallylois led to Mitchell reaching the by line and setting Devlin up for the 3rd. Bordenians reverted to type and started throwing aerials route one which the Valence defence soaked up easily.

From a '16' hit out the old boys tried to aerial the ball square across the 'd' over Devlin, when this went along the ground Devlin rounded the 'keeper only to tamely push the ball wide of the goal, which 2 defenders were guarding, much to the delight of the watching crowd. With 3 minutes to go Bordenians attacked on the ground and nutmegged stand in 'keeper Burt to leave Sutton playing out a final few tense minutes and ultimately not need to regret 2 missed golden opportunities.

Team

A Burt, C Johnson, S Parker, N Emerson, F McVarish, P Posnette, T Willson, L Mitchell, A Devlin, M Bowden, D Morran.

MoM

P Posnette
Fixture

Canterbury, 21 November 2009

Result

3 - 1 WIN ( C Thomas, C Henderson 1, Gavin ? )

Venue

Home

Report

After the previous week's victory Valance hoped to gain another 3 points against a Canterbury side that was at least half their age. The open exchanges went to Valance with a reverse stick shot from skipper Chad going narrowly wide. ( no surprise there and fined for the attempt). Valance continued to apply pressure with Chris Stille and Gavin ? making good use of the wings to penetrate the defence. Valance got the opener from Chris Thomas as he drove into the right side of the D and beat the keeper from range at the near post for his first goal for the team. Canterbury played some good attacking hockey but the steady Valance defence were able to stand firm. George Thomas played well at right back with some excellent interceptions and distribution. Valance's midfield continued to control the play and after several attacks and continued pre ssure Chad increased the lead on his second attempt with a hit from the top of the D.

The second half resumed and after continued pressure Canterbury scored with a shot that went under keeper Al-Bert ( fined for not playing to full potential ) 2-1! In the last quarter of the match Valance sealed the win with a goal form Gavin ? that put the game out of reach.3-1.

Valance's defence showed great depth and skills throughout the game and the midfield worked 100% from start to finish to ensure a well deserved win against a good opposition.

Team

Al-bert, George Thomas, Arron Davey, Matt Oakley, Andy Mac,Gary Hagon, Chris Stille, Gavin?, Rick Archer Chad henderson, Andy Lynn, Chris Thomas

MoM

George Thomas
Fixture

Anchorians, 21 November 2009

Result

9 - 0 WIN ( S Aylott 2, N Ryder 2, J Piper 2, P Parmar, R Ashness, J Davies )

Venue

Home

Report

The team were confident, following the recent string of results and the relative youth of the Anchorians team.

The match started well with Valence enjoying the majority of the play. Eventually the pressure told and the first goal eased the tension. Despite continual pressure, the opposition keeper and defence frustrated the home attack until Nick Ryder commited the keeper and passed back to Jack Davieswho picked his spot and slid the ball into the corner of the goal. almost immediately from the restart, Pradeep drove into the circle and unleashed a shot into the roof of the net. From that point on, confidence coursed through the team and a fourth goal was scored just before half-time.

Goals came regularly through the second half from a mixture of excellent play and good fortune; with the ball rolling slowly over the line in two cases. The young Anchorians players remained committed to the end and this was respected by the home team.

Our stand in goal keeper, Will Fuller, had to leave the field with 15 minutes to go. He had not touched the ball in anger, so we played with 11 outfield players for the remainder of the match. This was a great team performance and the hope is that the style of play will continue to the end of the season.

There was some concern regarding the final score, one umpire scored the game 8-0 but the players recounted 9 scores. Both Umpires officiated extermely well.

Team

Will Fuller, Phil Morris, Alex Riddle, Nick Gray, Jim Piper, Bob Sagrott, Richard Ashness, Nick Ryder, Simon Aylott, Alen Day, Jack Davies, Pradeep Parmar

MoM

The Anchorians Keeper
Fixture

Tunbridge Wells Grasshoppers, 21 November 2009

Result

2 - 2 DRAW ( C Worsfold, R Humphrey )

Venue

Away

Report

Playing on grass generally takes a while to get used to once again, but in this game Sutton Valence were settled and on the attack from the whistle, putting the Grasshoppers under immediate pressure. But Tunbridge Wells are old hands at absorbing pressure and had pressure plans of their own. As Sutton Valence pressed upfield seeking to convert one of their several chances, Wells broke out twice, once after less than five minutes and again just over ten, with a long ball that got them behind the Valence defence with only the keeper to beat from the centre. Two up against the run of play.

Captain Gray Smith-Laing reorganised the defence after the second one to ensure that that could not happen again, and Valence continued the pressure up front through Henry Humphrey, Geoff Bell and Charles Worsfold. This finally paid off just before halfway through the first half with a ball pushed through for Worsfold to net.

The second half saw more pressure from Valence with a change up front, bringing Rupert Humphrey more into play. Some excellent passing of the ball out of the middle of the field, particularly by Harprit Dogra, led to some strong runs into Grasshopper territory and eventually an accurate cross from Linaker found Rupert Humphrey clear to shoot past the keeper to level the score. More pressure brought more opportunities with Humphrey again missing by only a whisker, and then, after a short corner semi-clearance and with the ball bobbling around the prone keeper, Henry Humphrey lifted the ball over him to see it blocked, at chest height, by a defender's stick and chest. Penalty flick!

Up stepped Geoff Bell, last week's goal scorer, as volunteer taker. But no glory this week, as the flick only pea-rolled along the ground barely reaching the surprised and relieved keeper!

With not much time left Grasshoppers tried to lift their game, but it was still Sutton Valence threatening, but not quite managing to take all the points.

Good to see Nick Willson back playing a full game following surgery on his knee in the summer.

This puts the series of three games against Grasshoppers in the balance, but will require Valence to win the home game on 30th Jan by more than 4 clear goals!

Team

Dave Britton; Chris Dixon; Gray Smith-Laing; Hamish Dow; Steve Mole; Rupert Humphrey; Harprit Dogra; Nick Willson; Paul Linaker; Henry Humphrey; Geoff Bell; Charles Worsfold. Umpires: Paul Linaker; Charles Worsfold; Chris Dixon.

MoM

Harprit Dogra and Rupert Humphrey
Fixture

Tunbridge Wells, 21 November 2009

Result

10 - 2 WIN ( M Turner 6, E Sullivan 2, S Garner, E Grey )

Venue

Away

Report

Sutton Russets, playing short this week, made a slow start to the game which allowed Tunbridge Wells to get through the defence early in the game to score their first goal. Sutton Russets then picked up their game putting together some good passes to get through the opposition defence and score themselves. At half time the score was 4-1. After half time Sutton Russets continued to break through the opposition defence and scored another six goals including a solo run by Ellie Grey. Polly Burrows made some good saves in goal but all the Sutton Russets players contributed to keeping the score line down. Towards the end of full time Tunbridge Wells made a quick break to score their second goal

Team

Sophie Garner, Emily Sullivan, Gina Scott, Ellie Grey, +Annabelle Sunnocks, Morgan Neale, Nicola Andrew, Polly Burrows, Laura Gregory, Margaret Turner

MoM

Ellie Grey