Sutton Valence 1
Matches
Sat 21 Oct 2017
Sutton Valence Hockey Club
Sutton Valence 1
4
4
Sevenoaks 4
The Youth of Today

The Youth of Today

Andrew Wishart26 Oct 2017 - 10:21
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Youth win after Wedding Exit!

The Sevenoaks team was full of skilful youngsters, supported by some wise old heads. From the push back, the visitors launched wave after wave of attack at the Sutton Valence D with youthful enthusiasm. The Sutton Valence defence struggled to deal with Sevenoaks’s pace on the break and the visitors took the lead with a well worked goal, chipping the on-rushing Young (name, not age reference), just as the heavens opened.
Valence often need a shock to the system to start playing properly and this was no different. The team in red began to find their rhythm and put pressure on the Sevenoaks D, forcing a short corner. Up stepped Andy Turnill with a drag flick rocket, the keeper dived, just getting enough on the ball to divert in onto the rear stanchion for a satisfying ‘ding’. 1-1.
There was now a game on. Valence pressed forward again, beginning to play well together and the initial sting had been taken out of the Sevenoaks actions, albeit they still proved dangerous and fearless on the attack. It was however the home team who took the lead for the first time, when another good Valence move resulted in a trademark Alex Stamp firm strike. 2-1.
The midfield dual continued, with the battle pretty even. Now the match had settled down, both teams were capable of applying pressure and also absorbing pressure, though arguably Sevenoaks were the more dexterous team. Sevenoaks kept pressing forward, forcing a number of short corners, which were generally well dealt with by the Valence defence. However, a strike on goal from one such short was well saved by keeper Young, but as the rebound was lifted over him he decided to keep his stick by his side and chest the ball away; penalty stroke awarded. The Sevenoaks Dutch import stuck a terrible P-Flick, but unfortunately, Young had already committed and the ball rolled over the line. 2-2. With regular attacks from Sevenoaks, it seemed like quite a long half, which was a good thing, because it allowed for one more SV attacking short corner. Andy Turnill stepped up and did his thing. 3-2.
The second half became more confrontational than the first half, but it was Valence that composed themselves to force an advantage. Following a pretty agricultural tackle from the Sevenoaks defender at the top of the D, a short corner was awarded. The ball came out. Stopped. Andy Turnill dragged a rocket kissing the underside of the bar into the back of the net.
Unfortunately, Sevenoaks were not done. Pressing forward they forced another short corner. Their subsequent shot on goal was helped over the line by a defender. 4-3.
With five minutes to go, necessary team changes unsettled Valence and Sevenoaks took advantage. Sloppy/ non-existent marking at the back left the visiting striker with a free shot at goal. 4-4. A frustrating end to game, but probably a fair result.

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Oct 2017

Kickoff

09:45
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Senior Teams Sponsor - Ainsworth Civils Engineering Limited