The Avengers

Sutton Valence arrived at the Prep School pitch ready for another hard match. The pre-Christmas away game will show in the history books as a 6 nil drumming for SV. While no team is ever going to win 6 nil and be the lesser team, the 70 minutes of hockey certainly felt a lot more even than the score line reflected. Back to this Saturday, we arrived at the pitch. With a solid 11, no selection surprises, or ‘you’ll never forget who I bumped into down the pub, so I invited him along, he’s not paying any subs or match tax but he’s in the starting 11 and you are on the bench, there’s a good lad’ moments to report this week.

In the car park and the usual chat of, ‘isn’t it a few degrees colder on this exposed hill side than it was in my centrally heated home’ conversations got the banter started. Then the BB team arrived, released from the metropolis one of their team was barely out the car before he had launched his drone over the playing field. Clearly, they felt that they had it in the bag.

On to the pitch, drone still buzzing above our heads, SV got on with an intense warm up. In the corner for Captain Fantastic to divulge some wisdom. ‘These guys have got a load of ringers and they think that they are here to give us a stuffing’.

The match started with an even exchange in the midfield. SV were showing reasonable ball retention prowess and menace going forward. Eventually, sustained pressure on the Brom Becs D led to the ball being drilled in. The ever enthusiast Johnny Walker neatly deflected the ball sky bound. As it dropped from the heavens and nestled into the back of the goal, BB knew that they were not here to scoop another three points and boost their goal difference. They were in a match.

The big guy playing sweeper for Brom Becs was throwing aerials like they were going out of fashion. Luckily most went in the direction of Russ, because those that went in DT’s direction, were not dealt with so efficiently. You would have thought that he would have cottoned on.. He didn’t. Russ dealt with them like a pro. However, as BB pushed forward they forced a short corner. Up stepped big guy and launched a rocket of a drag flick into the roof of the net. 1-1.

Valence did not let their heads drop and had most of the possession. Once again building pressure on the visitor’s D. James Padwick stepped up to put the home team back in front. 2-1.

Unfortunately, the lead would not be held to half time. Another short corner, another scud missile and 2-2. Now there is something to think about here. Brom Becs scored two short corners from two attempts… Sutton Valence found themselves in early season form, multiple attempts. Zero goals… We have been reliably informed by the SV forwards that practising a short corner routine will not change our fortunes. This is pure wizardry, some days you are hot, some days you are not. Right.

Half time chat.

BB attacked and forced a cross into the D, with an unlucky deflection from an SV stick, sitting nicely for the Brom Becs striker. 2-3.

Behind for the first time in the game, SV were playing with additional urgency and creating opportunities.

Maybe it wasn’t going to be our day? Not if Captain Fantastic had anything to say about it. A telling change of formation. 3 at the back, ‘attack, attack, attack’. On the ball himself, rolling back the years, into the D. Tackled. Nice try boss.

The crowd, consisting of; Chris Back and Paul Linaker were on the edge of their seats. It was tense. SV into the D again, the ball bounced up to Johnny Walker to volley home. 3-3. Johnny is certainly immersing himself in the League of Unique and Entertaining Goals and Enthusiastic Celebrations.

SV felt they should have won. BB couldn’t believe they hadn’t boosted their goal difference. The home team can be the more satisfied though as this result goes some way to addressing the hammering in the away fixture.

After the match Chris Back said, ‘It was the most entertaining match I have ever watched. Sutton Valence’s 2nd XI is a joy to observe and a credit to the club and the game of hockey itself’.

Unbeaten in 2017. Valence hope this run will continue.