In a match that could be described as a game of two halves, Sutton Valence welcomed Old Will’s 4s to their fortress this week. The home side dominated the first half, controlling the midfield with some impressive passing and dictating the tempo of the game. Their early dominance was rewarded when, after about 15 minutes, the ball skimmed across the D. In an unusual turn of events, Willmott was pushed over while appealing for a foul, and Ali Robinson remained calm to slot the ball into the back of the net, giving Sutton Valence a well-earned 1-0 lead.

This seemed to rattle Old Will’s, particularly their more senior players, who tried to earn themselves a breather by berating the umpire, who obligingly obliged with a timeout. The momentum was with Sutton Valence, and shortly after, Andy Barr stepped up to hammer the ball home, extending the lead to 2-0 before the halftime break. Notably, Sutton Valence’s goalkeeper Ross Mackay made a key short corner save during the first half, ensuring his side went into the break with a clean sheet.

However, the second half saw a role reversal, with Sutton Valence slipping from an attacking mode to a more defensive posture. While the defense held firm, they created little in terms of offensive opportunities. As the match wore on, the pressure began to tell. Old Will’s broke through the Sutton Valence back line, pulling one back to make it 2-1. Not long after, they struck again, leveling the scores at 2-2.

With time running out, Sutton Valence regained some of their earlier attacking verve, pressuring the Old Will’s defense but failing to convert any chances. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving Sutton Valence to reflect on what might have been. A missed opportunity to capitalize on their dominant first half, and a reminder that attack should be their strongest form of defense moving forward.

Final Score: Sutton Valence 2 - 2 Old Will’s 4s.

Team:
Ross Mackay; Nick Hall (c); Adrian Gander; James Willmott; Alistair Robinson; Ben Tragett; Tom Willson; Alex Hodges; Chris Sheldon; Chris Stille; Duncan Wills; James Abrahams; Andy Barr

Goals - Alistair Robinson, Andy Barr

Next Match: Maidstone (A) 22/2/2025 11:30