Depleted 1st X1 go down fighting

Sutton Valence made the short journey to K Sports looking to again get the better of their local rivals, as they did in the first half of the season. However, this time Valence were missing a number of key regulars, though they were boosted by the return of their defensive giant Gus McVarish. Unfortunately this turned out to be the briefest of comebacks as an over exuberant 10 yard pass in the warm up led to the recurrence of his shoulder injury. This, and the fact that Ryan Robinson was locked in a classroom somewhere, meant that Valence were left with just the starting eleven.
No doubt boosted by a partisan home crowd, K Sports started well and were soon causing Valence problems with some quick attacks which led to their first goal, a well worked move tapped in at the far post. Valence responded well to this and started gaining a bit more possession, creating a couple of chances of their own but K Sports were a constant threat and scored a second through a very fortuitous miss-hit short corner that bobbled in, and then shortly after, another quick break and smart finish on the reverse made it three. Valence continued to compete well for the rest of the half but were unable to reduce the deficit before half-time.
Valence were hoping for a quick response in the second half but soon found themselves conceding a fourth, a deflected hit into the D finding the home side’s forward unmarked to finish. Despite this Valence’s heads never dropped and with some continued frantic defending at times and some good work from Louis Robinson, Andy Turnill and Lewis Mitchell in both halves of the pitch Valence played some decent hockey and were unlucky not get the goal that their second half performance deserved.

MoM: Rob Bray
DoD: Angus McVarish

Team: Stewart Young, Russell Blanchard, Alex Hodges, Rob Bray, Richard Turnill, Chris Stille, Louis Robinson, Lewis Mitchell, Brett Angel, Marius Dreyer, Andy Turnill........ and almost Angus McVarish!
Umpire: Andrew Wishart

Match Report by Rob Bray.

Next week the 1st Xl have another tough game at home against Old Williamsonians 2nd Xl, the current runaway League leaders, though with whom they managed an away 2 : 2 draw in November.