1st Xl battle to a well-earned win

On a cold, wet, afternoon Valence travelled to Blackheath & Elthamians.
Not expecting the pitch to be about a mile from the car park, Valence got a shorter than usual warm up. With the great weather and several regular first-teamers unavailable, the odds were stacked against the mighty Sutton Valence. Valence were well in the game in the opening minutes, winning 50/50 balls, and even had the first few shots on goal. They were unlucky not to go ahead as they had a couple of shots cleared off the goal line - Joe Lenehan already turning to celebrate as Old Grey came sliding from the top of the D to clear the ball on the line. Blackheath & Elthamians got more settled and started giving the visitors’ defence a hard time; Stewart Young was called into action several times as they hung on. The pressure eventually paid off for the home team as they got the opening goal from open play, a tap in for an unmarked player.
Half time came and the team talk was about being more clinical; Valence knew they were getting the chances, but just weren’t capitalising. After a competitive start to the second half Valence were finding their rhythm and after just a few minutes a Kurt Angle look-alike basically suplexed Valence’s Lewis Mitchell to the ground. Green card to ‘Kurt Angle’ and a lot of banter between the two teams. Clearly the weather wasn’t getting anyone down. Valence made the one-man advantage count as they pushed and won a short corner. Joe’s drag flick deflected straight into the path of Brett Angel, who, in cold and clinical style blasted the ball into the bottom right. 1-1. Valence realised they could push for the win, but Lewis Mitchell and Rob Bray had other ideas. Two quick green cards and Valence were 2 men down. The home team laid siege to the Valence D, but the defence held strong.
Valence’s second goal came from a break away and the ball finding Brett Angel on the p-spot. He did well to beat his man and fire in the shot. 2-1 Valence and Blackheath threw bodies forward. One last break and Joe Lenehan found himself one on one with the keeper. With his initial shot saved, he then delivered a googly that the keeper completely misread - he stepped over the ball and could only turn and watch it trickle over the line. 3-1 and no way back for the home side.
It was a hard-fought team win but special mention for the Valence defence that had to weather more than one storm - some stand out moments from postman Russell Blanchard swatting away several balls and Louis Robinson with good distribution and even a chance at goal.

Goals: Brett Angel (2), Joe Lenehan
MoM: Brett Angel
DoD: Lewis Mitchell

Teas: Cremated but somehow soggy baked potato.

Team: Stewart Young, Russell Blanchard, Scott Montgomery, Alex Hodges, Louis Robinson, Rob Bray, Jack Davies, Fred McVarish, Lewis Mitchell, Brett Angel, Marius Dreyer, Joe Lenehan.
Umpire: Ryan Robinson

Match Report by Marius Dreyer

Next week the 1st Xl are at home against Gore Court 3rd Xl, currently in 9th position