1st Xl held to a draw

On a windy day, Valence managed to turn up with a small team of 12 to challenge Holcombe at their home pitch. Valence started strong with penetrating runs from the midfield and Holcombe appearing unable to start an attack. Valence managed to repeatedly attack and win some short corners; however, the goal was not to come.
Into the second quarter of the game, Holcombe managed to get on the offensive and the game became more competitive for a brief time, with both defences fending off multiple attacks, with some spectacular saves from Stewart Young, even when he appeared to have no idea about them. At the end of the first half, the game was goalless.
After a rousing half time talk, Valence started the second half strong, with an emergency substitute turning up in the form of Chris Bailey. Within minutes of being on the pitch, Bailey decided that his appearance was misadvised and wanted to relax on the side-lines, substituting himself off. Valence went on to win multiple short corners and using different routines each time were somehow denied the goal that seemed so deserved. During this period of domination, Holcombe managed to set up an attack, overcommitting themselves in the process, allowing Valence to create a counter-attack with McVarish clear through on goal before being brutally hacked down from behind by a Holcombe youngster.
After a while, Holcombe managed to get back on the attack, managing to win a short corner themselves. The Valence defence lined up to repel any routine Holcombe came up with. The ball was injected well out to the Holcombe player on the top of the D. The player flicked it towards the goal, straight in line with the top left corner. A perfect drag flick for all intents and purposes that would have been a goal, but the returning saviour Ryan Robinson, managed to get his stick up to deflect the ball, saving a certain goal and keeping the game goalless.
With the game moving on towards the final few minutes, Valence kept up the attack, creating plenty of chances. Unfortunately, nothing was to come of them and the game ended as a goalless draw for the two teams.
MoM: Ryan Robinson
DoD: Chris Bailey

Team: Stewart Young, Russell Blanchard, Ryan Robinson, Alex Hodges, Scott Montgomery, Mark Whitmill, Jack Davies, Fred McVarish, Louis Robinson, Brett Angel, Andy Turnill, Kevin Kirkham, Chris Bailey.
Umpire: Andrew Wishart

Match Report by Ryan Robinson