1st Xl get second win

After last week’s brilliant start to the season, Valence went into their second game full of confidence, ready to face the League leaders at their home ground in Dover. Valence started strong with scoring opportunities in abundance. Unfortunately, the Deal defence managed to soak up the pressure before launching counter attacks into the Valence half. Now it was Valence’s turn to be put under pressure, a spell which gave the home side two great opportunities. The first, a penalty flick, as Robinson was penalised for deliberately using the back of his stick to the bewilderment of all around him, well the Valence players at least, and the second a short corner, their third of the half. The flick should have been the opening goal but Young got the better of his adversary, diving left to glove away with an outstretched arm. No such heroics with the short corner and a soft goal with the ball being slotted underneath a diving keeper into the goal. After this the game went back the way of Valence, keeping Deal on the backfoot. Half time the score was 1-0
Starting the second half, both teams came out strong with pressure on both defences. After a run round most of the Dee by Fred McVarish, the ball managed to get to Alex Stamp on the far post, who was able to deflect the ball into the open goal. Fortunately, through Rob Bray, Valence managed to find the spark that was needed to grab their second goal and put them ahead. Valence kept the pressure up for the rest of the half, rarely letting Deal get on the attack. With seconds to go on the clock, Alex Stamp managed to somehow beat multiple players at the top of the Dee before finding himself in enough space for one of his infamous wind-ups to finally hit the ball goalward past a stunned keeper.

Goals: Stamp (42, 69); Bray (63)
MoM: Ryan Robinson
DoD: Kevin Kirkham

Team: Stewart Young, Russell Blanchard, Ryan Robinson, Chris Johnson, Angus McVarish, Rob Bray, Fred McVarish, Lewis Mitchell, Brett Angel; Jack Davies; Kevin Kirkham; Alex Stamp.
Umpire: Andrew Wishart

Next week the 1st Xl are away again, against BBHC 2nd Xl.

Match Report by Ryan Robinson.