It's always a good start to a game when you're expecting a 13 man squad and only 10 arrive. Facing the prospect of being a man down all game the SV team was setup in a slightly more defensive formation to conserve energy. With a 1 man less man Sutton Valence took the early initiative and pinned new beccs in their own half for the first 15 minutes. Against the run of play new beccs advanced to SV's D and were awarded a short corner, which they converted. Despite the setback SV continued to push, but the half ended with the home side going into the break 1 nil down, with the SV feeling they should be on top, not behind.
A few positional changes at half time was intended to give SV a slightly more attacking edge, but it had the opposite effect, with a few players feeling a little bit out their comfort zone. New beccs scored another goal with the ball dribbling over the line after it looped in the air from a save by Rob Sharp the SV goal keeper. The team shape then reverted back to the original formation and it started to pay dividends. SV we awarded a short corner, which in-form striker Chris Sheldon converted. At 2-1 SV were back in the game.... Well not for long with New Beccs scoring their best goal of the game from a well worked short corner again. At 3-1 down it could have been easy for heads to drop, but this was a Sutton Valence side that had dominated most of the game, but hadn't converted their chances. With 15 minutes left to play SV upped their work rate and Tom Bartlett put a goal in from open play, followed up by another goal from Chris Sheldon who has become an expert recently of hat trick jug avoidance!

At 3-3 with 5 minutes to go, SV were looking to capitalise on the momentum they had on their side…. they were looking for one final push! That push came from open play with good interchange build up culmination in James “Paddy” Padwick scoring an excellent goal.

The game ended with SV feeling they thoroughly deserved the win, not because they only had 10 men, but because they played the better hockey. It was a real team effort to win with just 10 men, but man of the match has to go to Paddy for his standout performance and work rate in both attack and defence. Maybe we should play with 10 men every week!