1st X1 shine through the Autumn drizzle

Arriving at the Senior School pitch, the weather was unwelcoming, but there was worse news to come. Hopes for a subs bench were quickly dashed. Johnners had leapt at the opportunity to play 2’s and then umpire the 1st team match(?), Lucky was AWOL and Stampy had sustained injury while feeding the pony. A bare 11 it was. However, as the clock struck 11 am, SV had 11 players more than Canterbury, who were somewhat conspicuous by their absence. Secretary Angel got on the phone and tracked the opposition down. Struggling to get in and then out the car park, seemed to be the excuse. By 11:10 they were trickling through the gate, along with Lucky, a very welcome sight.
The match started in grim conditions, with the early exchanges of limited quality. Valence were the first to seize the initiative. It took a solo effort from Fred McVarish to break the deadlock. Running across the top of the D and hitting a reverse stick undercut. 1-0. This was to start an ample flow of goals for the rest of the match! Andy Turnill receiving a solid Dan Brookes cross to find the net. 2-0. He promptly added to his early season tally and made it 3-0 shortly after.
At half-time, Valence were comfortable, but there was a collective opinion that there should be more goals to come. It was quite astounding that Back managed to convey this message without the assistance of a whiteboard, but somehow he managed it. Valence were keen to carry on where they left off and set out with a strong press. Lucky drove the ball forward on the right side of midfield, crossing the ball into the D, finding DT arriving late at the back post for a reverse stick tap in.
Canterbury were beaten, but they continued to probe and caused Valence a few problems on the break, winning multiple short corners. Generally Blanchard, Brookes, McVarish A and Stanford were able to stub out the majority of attacks, before they troubled Whitmill in the Valence goal. Valence continued to dominate, with ‘The Engine’ McVarish bossing the midfield and demanding high standards from his team. Pushing forward Valence forced multiple short corners, with; Andy T, Stanford, Back, Canterbury (OG) adding to the tally. 8-0. Canterbury continued, their young players were able to give Valence something to think about, especially when their striker rifled the ball in the top of the net from the edge of the D. 8-1 With 15 minutes left to play, things began to get strange. Angel crossed from the right, finding DT, who slapped into the bottom left. 9-1. DT has been playing hockey for SVHC since the tender age of 6. Goal scoring has been pretty limited over the years. He has never scored two goals in a game. So, then in the next attack when the ball spilt to an off-balance DT, who improvised and bobbled the ball inside the right hand post. In the words of Brett Angel, ‘Absolute Scenes’. The unthinkable had happened, a hatrick for DT. There have been decades that have passed with fewer goals for the boy!
Valence had hit double digits, but there was one more shocker. Pushing forward once again and with the ball spilling to the left-hand side of the D, it was not DT that this time seized, but the marauding Blanchard, who picked up the loose ball and let fly, the ball crashing against the backboard. 11-1. As the final whistle blew, the clouds had parted and the sun was shining. Valence headed to the Queens Head for a well earnt, sausage chips and beans lunch.

Goals: Andrew Turnill (3); Richard Turnill (3); Chris Back (2); Fred McVarish; Alex Stanford, Russell Blanchard.

Team: Fred McVarish; Angus McVarish; Richard Turnill; Russell Blanchard; Chris Back; Andrew Turnill; Mark Whitmill; Matt Luksich; Brett Angel; Alex Stanford; Dan Brookes, Jack Davies.
Umpires: Chris Johnson & Darren Thompson

Match report by Richard Turnill.

Next week there is no hockey but the 1st Xl are away on the 4th November against Gore Court 3rd Xl at 15:00 at Westlands Secondary School.