SV3s turn the tide.

Sutton Valence 3rd Xl hosted their third Kent Open Premier C League clash against Deal 2nd Xl. Having had a run of back luck over the previous two games, Valence were looking to turn the tide with a win, and it looked promising with a home game, a good turn out and a couple of substitutes, which had been missing from the previous weeks.
The game started well, with Valence keeping possession and moving the ball around the backs, using the width of the pitch and getting some good opportunities at goal. This is continuing to improve as the season goes on, but thanks were due to Rob Bray returning and putting in a sterling effort in centre back to cover for their absent Captain. Utilising a tried and tested structure, Valence set up a strong attacking line and had several chances to penetrate the Deal defence. Unfortunately, they held firm, with the added benefit of some excellent saves from the goalkeeper, and SVHC could only go into the half time break 1 : 0 up, when an excellent series of passes round the keeper finished being finally slotted into the goal by Pete Rogers running to the back post.
Deal came out the more determined side in the second half, and Valence started slipping back into bad habits. The game had changed from being more in Valence’s favour to Deal having some continued attacking periods in their half, finally leading to a short corner which was swiftly driven from the top into the corner of the goal, levelling the scored at 1 : 1 with 8 minutes to play.
This seemed to revitalise Valence, as it dawned on the players, that having held the lead for so long, it could all end on a draw, or even worst a defeat. The ball was quickly pushed back into the Deal half, and several scoring efforts were made, but again these were defended well, and SVHC were getting more and more conscious that the final whistle was looming.
In one last final attempt, the ball was fired in towards the P-spot, where Chris Sheldon managed to reach out and tap the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper as it was going onto his pads, however, it had snagged on the way through and appeared between the goalkeeper and goal line. There was a rush to play the ball, and Sheldon got the final touch to make it 2 : 1 to Valence. The ball was returned to the halfway line and the final whistle blew.