Sutton Valence 3s hosted New Beccs 3s on an overcast Saturday morning, with both teams reduced to a short warm-up before the late morning pushback.

Each side started the game with a steady tempo, keeping good possession and occasionally pushing forward to test each other’s defence but without creating many clear-cut chances. At both ends, passes into the D were not connecting and the first half appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until New Beccs pinched. In the remaining minutes of the first half, Sutton Valence enjoyed a lot of possession but could not find a way through to goal and went into half-time 1-0 down.

Despite trailing at the break, this felt like a very winnable game and a confident start to the second half saw Sutton Valence picking up the tempo, taking control of the midfield and applying more pressure in the final third of the pitch. Sutton Valence secured three short corners in this period of pressure and played several dangerous-looking balls into the New Beccs D but still could not find a route to goal. An experienced New Beccs defence held firm and as the second half went on, they began to control the pace of the game, steadying themselves at free hits and playing long balls out of defence which bypassed the Sutton Valence midfield and were held up well by their forward line. As Sutton Valence continued to search for an equaliser, the game began to get stretched. The Sutton Valence defence were left outnumbered on several occasions but denied the New Beccs forwards, with goalkeeper Ross blocking and saving any shots that made it through.

Sutton Valence were left frustrated, with a sending-off temporarily reducing them to ten men, but it was one of those days when it felt that any amount of additional time would not have resulted in a goal for the home side.

The 3s head into the half-term break with a strong foundation to build on and good reason to think that on another day, the goals will follow.

Report By: Duncan Fields

Team:
Mackay
James Abrahams
Olly Sheldon
Stuart Edmed
Rod Harcourt
Alastair Robinson
Alex Stanford
Archer Ripley
Duncan Field
Jonah Harcourt
Andy McVarish
Rob Cockayne
Ryan Page

Next Match: 01/11/25 Blackheath & Elthamians 16:15