*Prosecco Supernova*

After securing the Division title last week Sutton Valence 1st X1 hosted Gravesham & Wellcome who also still had an outside chance of promotion. With the fizz on ice, SV pushed back and were instantly on the front foot creating numerous chances that were either fluffed or saved by unknown parts of the goalkeeper’s body. It was Gravesham who struck first after a miss-trap by Chris Back allowed the forward to advance on goal. With the ball stuck under keeper Young, the striker foraged in Young’s pocket and plucked the ball out and slotted home.
Gravesham added a second shortly after when Back was beaten 1 on 1 allowing the striker through to pass keeper Stewart Young with ease, 2-0 to Gravesham and only the 8th goal SV had conceded all season. SV continued to create chances and finally managed to half the deficit from a penalty corner through the moustache laden McVarish with a reverse stick strike via a defender’s foot. 2-1 to Gravesham going into half time.
SV came out in the second half with vigour and gained numerous penalty corners which failed to reap any reward thanks to some poor finishing and some goal line clearances. The equaliser eventually came through captain Alexander Stamp, assisted by McVarish snr which gave SV the momentum and energy to push on for their eighteenth victory of the season.
SV soon hit the front, again through Stamp, with a reverse stick ‘shot’ which confused everyone and snuck in at the near post past a usually Jedi like goalkeeper. They then sealed the game when Chairman Mitchell slalomed down the base line and slipped the ball to Stamp to complete his unexplainable jug avoiding hat trick with a neat near post finish. With Carter, Pohio and McVarish snr taking complete control of the game, SV saw the game out comfortably with only a couple of circle penetrations from Gravesham but not forcing Young into any meaningful saves.
Cue the Division-winning fake champagne and cue McVarish jnr showing his inexperience in this field, failing to shoot his bolt leaving the men in red dry and needing a real man to step up. Up stepped Ken Brooks, fizzy stuff plentiful, celebrations meek and the national anthem being sung by the Club Captain bringing tears to the eyes!
Both teams and their entourages retired to the Queens Head for the delectable sausage, beans and chips washed down with the standard hooch!

Goals: Alex Stamp (3); Angus McVarish.

Team: Stewart Young; Chris Back; Dan Brooks; Angus McVarish; Clayton Pohio; Ali Carter; Fred McVarish; Matt Luksich; Richard Turnill; Alex Stamp; Lewis Mitchell; Jack Davies; Russell Blanchard.

Match report by Alex Stamp.

The 1st Xl are away for the final game of the season on Sat 6th April at 13:00 at Kent College TN2 4AX against Tunbridge Wells 3rd Xl.