1st Xl overcome Sevenoaks despite short numbers

Sutton Valence made the journey over to Sevenoaks with numerous players unavailable due ‘not’ getting engaged, work or babysitting duties.
Valence, being watched by Timmy’s father for the first time this season, started brightly and had the better of the early exchanges which culminated in Ollie Laing getting the first goal from close range. This spurred Oaks on, who started to attack with their tricky youngsters giving the Valence defence something to think about. It was Valence who struck next with Laing grabbing his second again from close range. This should have been the hat-trick jug secured back at the Queen’s, but he’d earlier missed the easiest of the three chances. Oaks were by no means out of the game and had numerous short corners forcing Stewart Young in the Valence goal into some smart saves. Half-time came with Valence two goals up.
The start of the second half can only be described as something from D-Day, with Oaks all over Valence from the whistle. Some stout defending from the Robinson bothers kept Oaks at bay until short corner number ten (in a row) yielded a goal, as Wilcher deflected the drag flick goal-wards and off the crossbar and in. 2-1 with 20 minutes to go. Wave after wave of attacks and penalty corners for Oaks were seen off by some orthodox means and sometimes by some very questionable decision making from the Valence rear-guard. Valence were very much playing on the counter attack and, somehow, they managed to grab a third goal with Marius Dreyer tapping in after some defensive mis-communication. 3-1 became 4-1 soon after when Kevin Kirkham tucked the ball home from close range and it seemed Valence were going to burgle the 3 points.
Oaks kept coming and coming, but a combination of the superb Young in goal, the post, Stilo’s face, Marius’ foot, Ryan’s back stick, Russ’ beard and Wilcher’s plimsoles kept Oaks from adding to their tally. 4-1 the final score to the village. The team retired to the side of pitch, some for a drink of water and some for a cuddle with random strangers.
Valence enter the Christmas break in 4th place looking to have a push in the New Year for the top 2. The author left the building when the troops were on their third tequila so who knows to what messages he’ll wake up!!

Goals: Lang (2), Dreyer, Kirkham

MoM: Dreyer / Lang
DoD: Wilcher

Match teas: A carefully portioned Chicken pasta bake

Team: Stewart Young, Russell Blanchard, Ryan Robinson, Tim Wilcher, Louis Robinson, Marius Dreyer, Lewis Mitchell, Chris Back, Jack Davies, Kevin Kirkham, Chris Stille, Ollie Laing
Umpire: Bob Bartlett

Club friendly MacMole 29th December

Next game friendly v Cliftonville 4th January at home
Next League game v Canterbury Millers 11th January away at Canterbury

Match Report by Chris Back.