2nd Xl - Well behaved but outclassed

Kent Open League – Premier A 24th March 2018
Sutton Valence 2nd XI 0 : 3 Gravesham and Wellcome 1st XI

Well Behaved Valence Out-Classed

A grey Saturday morning greeted the teams on arrival at the Prep School pitch. G&W undertook a vibrant and disciplined warm up. Valence did not.
The match got underway and G&W took their strong warm up into the game. The visitors worked well as a team, working hard off the ball and they were skilful with the ball. It was going to be a long day for Valence!
Valence prodded and created chances, with Delvin and Stille upfront chasing opportunities, but it was G&W that looked more menacing. Eventually they broke into the Valence D and unleashed a strike in the general direction of the side board. Being an honest chap, Judge Blanchard thought that they deserved a goal for their efforts. He skilfully directed the ball inside Captain Young’s right-hand post. 0-1.
Sutton Valence were in the game, but G&W probably didn’t feel too threatened. A strong ball into the visitor’s D was deflected just over the cross bar by Andy Devlin. Unfortunately, it was G&W that forced the next goal, twisting on the top of the D their Irish talisman skipped past DT and smoothly passed to the back post for the striker to double the lead. 0-2.
Half time talk. “It’s all on the next goal, let’s go and get it!”
Early in the second half Valence conceded their first short corner of the match. A well-practiced routine saw
a strong direct shot on goal. El Capitano opted to spread himself. Regrettably, the ball had already hit the backboard. We won’t mention that if Stewie had have stayed planted the ball would have bounced off his kicker. 0-3.
Valence pushed to get back into the game, creating several short corners, the short corner specialist Ife Big Gun’ went forward. He tried his best, topped one, under-cut another. Alas it was not to be his day!
The visitors pushed forward, but Valence were still defending well. In the last five minutes DT recreated his ‘tackle’ from the Macmole festive game. The result was the same. Another black eye. “Stupid sport, let’s go
to the Queens and talk about how good we used to be”,
MOM: Tom Willson (embarrassingly so)
Combative Award: DT (Smacked in the face again)!
Scorers: 0
Green Cards 0
Former Captain Fantastic Sonic gave the following statement after the game, “I was nowhere today”.

Team: Stewart Young, Rob Ife, Brett Angel, Richard Turnill, Tim Wilcher, Tom Willson, Johnny Walker, Russell Blanchard, Chris Stille, Andy Devlin, Steve Parker, Chris Bailey.
Umpire – Bob Bartlett

Sutton Valence 2nd Xl continue their Kent Open Premier A League season with five games in hand, lying 6th with a home game against Gillingham Anchorians Xl currently in 8th position on Wednesday evening and then a tough home game against Herne Bay 2nd Xl, currently in 1st position on Saturday 31st March.