The SVHC 2s gathered early in the glorious Kentish morning sunshine – once again without recently emigrated skipper Nick Hall - for the second of a run of three consecutive home fixtures, aiming to consolidate their current position in the upper echelons of the South East Men’s Division Seven.
Visitors New Beccehamian 2s were no doubt looking forward to a friendly and competitive match played in the visibly pleasant conditions. Fair to say they were probably rather more surprised than the SV hosts to emerge from their vehicles to discover that the Prep School micro-climate was once again biting its thumb at the notion of global warming. An extremely fresh wind was blowing across the danger zone that Sevenoaks recently declared akin to a live minefield, but which SVHC 2’s bravely continue to refer to as an astroturf pitch.
In turn, Valence were distressed to note that the shivering New Becc's team had cunningly turned up well ahead of time and chosen to warm up at the clearly marked [Ed – not at all marked] home-team’s favoured end. Valence gamely refused to rise to the bait and carried out their customary impromptu gentle-stretch-and-pass warm-up at the eastern end of the pitch.
New Beccs won the toss and elected to push back. As both teams explored each other’s weaknesses early doors it soon became clear that this was likely to be an evenly matched affair. Valence had legs on the flanks and were passing and interchanging well in midfield, whilst New Beccs boasted a skilful and pacey forward line and an impressively resolute defence.
As the first half developed Valence had the better of the early exchanges in the first 15 minutes, before New Beccs began themselves to probe more effectively. In particular Beccs had increasing success finding their mobile young forward line with a succession of fine long passes. Nevertheless, the Valence back line of Abrahams, Parker and Gander dealt well with the long balls and towards the end of the half Valence, particularly through Hodges, Sheldon, Bartlett and Fields began once again to roam forwards to test the refrigerated visitors. Whilst Valence were clearly growing in confidence, the first half ended with honours shared.
The half time team talk found unusually little to criticise, and Valence started the second half with much the same positivity with which they had ended the first. Some uncharacteristically smart passing led t's D, applying the finishing touch remained somewhat elusive.
With 50 minutes under the belt, Valence managed find a hitherto-missing cutting edge, with some fine passing between Tragett and Bartlett down the middle of the park culminating in a Chris Sheldon charge into the D, only for his leg to remain stubbornly and unfortunately entangled with an entirely innocent New Becc's stick. The laws of physics saw to it that Sheldon arced surprisingly gracefully towards the murderous prep school surface, and Valence awaited the penalty flick that would surely follow. Whilst initially awarded in line with home expectations, the umpires took a moment to briefly reflect upon the entirely innocent intent at grip-end of the entirely innocent New Becc's stick that had accidentally brushed Sheldon’s leg, and a 16 was instead the entirely proper outcome.
Valence resolutely refused to let this disappointment get the better of them however, and were once again on the move, with a thrusting charge down the left eventually resulting in a long corner in a threatening central position. Play resumed with Ben Tragett darting right and firing a firmly weighted, and dangerously directed, ball across the face of the goal towards two waiting Valence players. Duncan Field reacted
fastest, placing club before notions of personal safety to lunge between two New Beccs defenders and deflecting the ball up into the net to ease Valence’s growing frustration and seeing the home side taking a deserved lead.
Heads now very much up, it was not long before Valence threatened again with another expansive move down the right flank resulting in a short corner. From the injected short, Sheldon moved the ball right, teeing up Tom Bartlett to fire a smart strike towards the bottom right of the New Beccs goal. Unfortunately for Sutton Valence, an entirely innocent New Becc's ankle intercepted the ball at what was later widely agreed to be roughly head height. Whilst a number of Valence players entirely incorrectly felt that Bartlett’s shot was dipping towards the middle of the backboard and appealed for a flick, the umpires held firm to their initial assessment of the situation and awarded a 16 once again.
Valence repeatedly probed the New Becc's back line to the final whistle but some resolute defending saw the match ending at 1-0, which was played in commendably good spirits by both sides throughout. Valence could take satisfaction in a deserved home win. A further win was recorded whilst thawing out at the surprisingly uncontested match teas, despite the considerable allure of Kent’s finest sausage, beans and chips.

Goals: Duncan Field.

MOM: Ben Tragett

Team: Ross Mackay; James Abrahams; Steve Parker; Stuart Edmed; Duncan Field; Adrian Gander; Tom Bartlett; Chris Sheldon; Alistair Robinson; Ben Tragett; Andrew Barr; Alex Hodges.
Umpires: Rob Cockayne; Darren Thompson.

Match report by Alistair Robinson.

Next week the 2nd Xl are at home against Marden Russets 7th Xl at 09:45.