1st Xl continue improved form to win

Finally the big rivalry was here, Sutton Valence 1st XI against K Sports 1st XI. After last season’s history, Valence availability was outstanding.... as with all home games... hint hint.

Valence started strong, holding over 75% possession and were unlucky not to go ahead in the early exchanges. The home team had a brace of short corners in the opening 10 minutes but were unable to convert either to break the dead lock. The goals started just after the quarter-hour mark, with a Kevin Kirkham P-flick following a defender’s foot on the line from another Sutton Valence short corner. Just under 10 minutes later Valence doubled their advantage with James Stanford scoring, also from a short corner, aiming for a deflection but beating the defender on the post. As the half ended, Valence thought it was all over, having dominated for 35mins. The next half was surely going to be the same......
Sadly, in true Sutton Valence spirit, it was not the case, an inner desire to make it interesting and squandering possession, brought the visitors back into the game. The second half saw K-Sports win the better of the possession, but for half an hour the home team defence held.
K Sports were hungry to stay in the game and not sacrifice 3 points, particularly in this local derby. With over 50 percent of the second half gone, what followed in the remaining 15 minutes can only be described as fraught, frantic and close to total chaos, a result of which were 3 Valence green cards as their desperate tackling crossed the mark. The home team defence were concerned as the visitors were awarded short corner after short corner. However, with Big Man Stewart Young making save after save, the visitors were limited to a single, scrambled goal 5 minutes from time. Local Derby part 1 saw Sutton Valence come out on top, winning 2-1 and earning 3 points, lifting them to 3rd in the league, with the leaders old Wills to play next week.

Goals: Kevin Kirkham(16), James Stanford(25): K-Sports (65)
MOM: Stewart Young
DoD: “The Greens’” (Russell Blanchard, Brett Angel, James Stanford)

Team: Stewart Young, Russell Blanchard, Rob Bray, James Stanford, Chris Back, Louis Robinson, Jack Davies, Fred McVarish, Lewis Mitchell, Brett Angel, Marcus Bawden (cameo), Alex Stamp, Andy Turnill, Kevin Kirkham.
Umpire: Andrew Wishart

Match Report by Fred McVarish.

Next week the 1st Xl are away against League leaders Old Williamsonians 2nd Xl at 13.30