Sutton Valence 2nd XI travelled to Ashford looking to take 3 points from the fixture to help them move off the bottom part of the League table. They started the game with a bare 11 and were also under pressure for the first 10 minutes against a well drilled Ashford team. They eventually found their feet and started to play some of their best hockey of the season. Both teams sparred with each other, with the game being played at a very high pace, with crisp passing and well worked moves from both sides, however neither team could break the deadlock. Eventually Valence’s 12th man turned up (later even though he now lives in Ashford….) which allowed them to roll some subs to try and keep themselves fresh throughout the game. With no goals against, Valence felt they were well and truly in the game at half time, and more of the same was needed from the squad in the second half.
This continued as the first had finished, with both teams continuing to test each other’s defence, but still no goals. There were numerous short corner opportunities for both sides, but both defences continued to hold firm. As the game entered the final phases, gaps started to appear in the middle of the pitch, leading to Ashford breaking through and though Valence had the opportunity to clear the ball from the D, they were unable to, and Ashford finally broke the deadlock scoring in open play. With only a few minutes left in the game SV pushed more players forward and won a couple of short corners, but they were unable to equalise before the final whistle.
Both sides had thrown everything including the kitchen sink at the game, but Ashford came out victorious. The game could have easily been drawn, or Valence could have won if they’d taken their chances earlier in the game. Although they came away with no points, they had put their best performance of the season into an extremely tight game, and currently lie in 10th position in the League with a game in hand.

MoM: Alex Hodges - who’s energy carried the team at times moving up the pitch and tracking back into defence.

Team: Finlay Wishart, Mark Whitmill, John Edmed, Alex Hodges, Steve Parker, Seb O Leary, Ben Tragett, Richard Turnill, Andy Barr, Chris Sheldon, Tom Wilson, Chris Bailey
Umpire: Iain Simmons

Match Report by Mark Whitmill

Next week’s game is at home against Old Wills 3rd Xl (currently 4th) @ 09:45am