3rd Xl chalk up solid double win against Old Wills

Keeps them in 3rd position in the League

This week the 3’s travelled to Old Williamsonians looking to complete a double over them this season after a good win in the first half of the season.

Valence started the game strongly and applied early pressure to the opposition defence. There was plenty of space for the attacking players to create chances and soon Valence forced the first short corner of the match. Tom Morgan injected the ball to the top of D and the strike was deflected in from close range by Marius Dreyer to take the lead.

Valence continued to spend most of their time in the Old Wills’ half and on the occasions where the opposition tried to counterattack their attacks were quickly snuffed out by a well organised defence and some unique saves from stand in keeper Ricky O’Neill. Before the end of the first half Valence managed to add another 3 to their total, two from Tom Morgan and one from Chris Jackson (not Rob Cockayne) to make the half time scoreline 4-0. A special mention must go to Sonic for missing an open goal after finding space at the far post but then letting the ball trickle over the back line whilst he “checked where the goal was.”

In the second half Valence played better hockey than they had in the first, switching the ball well across the defence and midfield and capitalising on the spaces left between the opposition players, however they struggled to make this good play pay dividends and were unable to further increase their goal tally. Old Wills pulled two goals back, the first from a short corner, as the attacker put in the rebound after an excellent goal line stop from the initial strike courtesy of Rob Harrison on the post and their second with the last touch of the match as they converted a penalty flick into the top lefthand corner of the goal where even experienced goalkeepers would have struggled to reach it. The match ended 4-2 which secures a third place finish for Valence 3’s.

With one League game of the season left, Valence welcome Canterbury Friars and hope to start the match with a full complement of suitably dressed players this time.

Goals: Tom Morgon (2), Chris Jackson, Marius Dreyer

Team : Ricky O’Neil, Nick Hall, James Abrahams, Rob Harrison, Adrian Gander, Chris Jackson, Duncan Field, Marius Dreyer, Tom Morgan, Rob Cockayne, Tom Harris, Andrew Lee
Umpire : Darren Thompson

Match Report: James Abrahams

Next week the 3rd Xl are at home against Canterbury Friars Xl, who are currently in 7th slot.