The Old Boys Network

Selection is quite a simple process for Sutton Valence’s 2nd best eleven. Generally we have no more than 11 players available, so Captain Fantastic runs through the positions during the static stretching phase of the warm up, ‘Stewie in goal, DT right-back, Trig and Ifo centre back, Russ left back’ etc.

Now a handful of times a season we reach that hallowed place of having a substitute(s). The first XI have a mid-afternoon away game in Bognor and suddenly the badge of dishonour of playing with the 2nd XI isn’t so dishonourable when it is 10 am start at Underhill. Should we have a substitute(s) the rules are quite simple (as Brett Angel knows all too well). Last man at the pitch warms the bench.

Saturday morning came. I went about my morning routine (and saving the full detail) I left the house six minutes later than planned at 09:01. Nine minutes to get to Underhill… I tried to call Captain Fantastic en route, no answer, I tried again, no answer. He was either driving or ignoring me… Hmm.. Arriving at the car park (09.13) , I had nothing to worry about, I wouldn’t be warming the bench as there was no sign of; Trig, Jimmy Pascoe, Willson and (needless to say) Angel. Jonny was handing out performance enhancing millionaire’s shortcake so life was good.

We set about clearing the school debris from the pitch and went for a run. To the afore mentioned static stretching. ‘Stewie in goal, Ifo right back, Tim and Trig in the middle, Russ left back….’ Etc. ‘DT you are on the bench, I cant invite Tim along and not play him’. Right…

DT and Paddy headed for the bench. The team headed to the pitch. The early exchanges firmly reminded Valence of the early season away fixture (which Anchorians won 6 nil). The visitors camped out in the Valence half and were looking menacing. Valence could not get near the ball let alone gain possession. Stewie had seen enough, as the Anchorian’s striker entered the D the SV keeper imposed himself on the pitch, the game, the striker and got somewhere near the ball. Most of the 22 on the pitch (and those at the side line) expected a penalty stroke… Short corner awarded. The defence stood up well with Parker and Figjam working well in the centre and distributing wide to initiate attacks.

Eventually SV woke up, pressure from Ife and Angel working together down the right turned into the first penalty corner. The injection was disguise trapped at the top of the D by Lavers before being fired in, the shot was initially saved but Captain Fantastic was the first to react and put SV 1nil up. The game swung after the goal, Valence found a confidence that had eluded them in the early exchanges.

A number of skilful runs from Willson kept the pressure on, and a good move starting out of defence through 6 passes ended up with Willson smashing in the second.

Valence pressed on. Shots were saved and penalty corners not converted by SV, but eventually the opposition could not hold out. Another move linking Blanchard on the left with Ife who breezed passed the hapless defence to set up a further short corner. Jimmy ‘the kid’ Pascoe, fresh from his last second equaliser last time out stepped up. ‘Pass back to Jonny’ came the instruction. ‘Yes – I’ve got it’, said Pascoe, shortly before he drilled the ball into the bottom right. 3 nil at half time.

One of the Captain’s easier half time talks.

While SV like to keep the opposition interested, they weren’t going to let this one slide, were they? Anchorians came out stronger, but the pressure was soaked up by the imperious SV defence. Generally there was a good display of holding the ball with some solid distribution from Parker and Figjam to see Ife (R) and Blanchard capitalise with the spaces wide. After another attack, Ife(M) had a goal disallowed for being outside the D. The opposition defenders thought it should have been allowed, although after the match the younger Ife did admit that he had no idea whether he was inside or outside the D.

Despite a strong half, SV could not add to their score and the opposition managed a consolation goal ending the game with a very controlled 3-1 victory.

At the final whistle the traditional post match handshakes ensued. The follically challenged Anchorians centre midfield player gave a demonstration of his unique finger crush handshake. Now nothing upsets me more than a limp wristed handshake, and being mates with Chris Back I am generally well prepared to deal with a palm crusher, but this was something else. The visitors decided they did not want to hang around and headed for home to lick their wounds, leaving more after match sausages for the home team!

Next week SV welcome Brom Becs where they will hope to avenge another 6 nil defeat from the first half of the season.

MOM – Tom Willson (He is just so good)