Drizzle welcomed the teams to the Sutton Valence Senior School pitch for the early push back on Saturday morning. The home team were buoyed by the appearance of x2 Willsons (for the first time in a long time) and Johnny Walker, strengthening the ranks.
The match started in good spirits. Valence have become specialists at snatching draws from the grips of victory and losses from the grip of draws this season. Emphasised by the tight 0-1 loss away to Ashford last week. The visitors clearly hadn’t read the match reports, only the league position. They thought they were here to do a number on SV.
The open exchanges were even with both teams looking to try take control, but cancelling each other out. It took a change in the SV midfield to create the opportunity. Simon Willson stepped on the pitch, 15 seconds later OW took the lead. 0-1.
With two Willsons playing in the centre of the pitch there was hope that the score could be evened, and so it was proved. Within a few minutes the siblings had combined, along with the assistance of Stille and Willmott, Willson bundled over an ugly finish, but a finish all the same. 1-1.
Valence were ready to push on and launched several waves of attack. Alex Hodges and Mark Whitmill were charging down the wings and creating opportunities. Tom Willlson picked up a cross from Whitmill, rode several agricultural challenges and shot from a tight angle, James Willmott managed to stop appealing for a short corner for long enough to make sure and score from approximately 2.5 inches. 2-1.
Old Williamsonians were not having any of that, a long-range aerial over the top unleashed their striker to re-take the lead, 2-2.
The two Willsons were enjoying themselves and even managed to pass to other team members on occasions. For Valence’s third goal, the words of the match umpire, Andrew Wishart;

“The 2s goal by Tom Willson was the result of one of the best plays I have watched as an umpire in three years at Sutton Valence. Started with Willson to Willson passing the ball to each other, then as they moved and accelerated the interplay Johnny Walker offered himself on the right wing. Tom Willson sprinted into the D to be supplied by a wonderous slip pass from JW, Tom deflected the ball in past the post. It was pure poetry”. 3-2.

Again, Old Williamsonians were not up for being beaten and yet another long-range aerial over the top unleashed their striker to even the score, 3-3.
Half time, nothing needed to be said. Just keep doing the same and try and get behind the aerials.
The second half can be summarised very briefly. There were some excellent performances. Every man on the field put in a shift, but one man stood above all others. Arise Sir Johnny. Arriving late in the D and half-hearted calling for the cross, Turnill wasn’t really sure what he was going to do with the ball if it had come to him. Walker however knew exactly what he was going to do. Transfer the ball on to the reverse and LBZ strike it into the top corner. An absolutely cracking strike. 4-3.
Shortly after it was Walker again who picked up the ball on the left and dribbled along the baseline and struck from a tight angle. 5-3.
Valence were now on top. OW were restricted to speculative opportunities. The Valence defence were generally able to soak up any pressure that was being exerted. There was still time for Walker to complete his hattrick. 6-3
So there is was, an absolutely fantastic win. It would however be remiss of the scribe not to make note of the dissent that was a feature of the game (from both sides). I am the first to admit that I often have too much to say on the pitch, but I will always thank both umpires for officiating (and apologise for any during match outbursts). Following the final whistle, I witnessed one of the OW players tell the umpire that he had, “ruined my week” as he continued to argue. I would have been embarrassed to have been his teammate and if I was his team mate I would have dragged him back to the dug-out. Thank you to Andrew Wishart for umpiring and having to put up with the unnecessary ‘opinions’.
A well-deserved second win of the season for Sutton Valence’s 2nd XI.

MOM: Alex Hodges/ Ben Tragett
Combative Award: Richard Turnill
Scorers: James Willmott, Tom Willson x2, Johnny Walker x3
Cards: N/A

Team: Finlay Wishart, Steve Parker, Ben Tragett, Tom Willson, Simon Willson, Richard Turnill, Mark Whitmill, Alex Hodges, Andy Barr, James Willmott, Johnny Walker, Scott, Chris Stille
Umpire – Andrew Wishart

Match Report by Richard Turnill

Next Game: Maidstone 3rds – 13:00 - 30th November 2019