Drizzle welcomed the teams to the Sutton Valence Prep School pitch for the early push back on Saturday morning. The home team were blessed with two substitutes, albeit at the start of the match one of the substitutes was heading back to Bearsted, after he managed to forget his shorts!
By all accounts the match started in good spirits. The author returned to the pitch with 15 minutes gone. The report from the bench was that Valence were 1 Nil down, but were the better team! With that a penalty stroke was conceded. Finlay Wishart stepped up and made a superb save to keep the score at 1 Nil.
Unfortunately, Maidstone’s well supported attackers quickly created another chance, capitalising on an SV mistake and extending their lead to 2 Nil. Maidstone were working hard and Valence could not handle their work rate and the visitors were able to make it 3 Nil before half time.
Half time. Work harder and pass to a red! Get an early goal and we will get back into it.
The second half can be summarised very briefly. Valence threatened, but unfortunately it was Maidstone who were the first to add to their goal tally. 4 Nil.
Valence rallied and managed to create a couple of goals. The second of which was a thing of beauty, with Chris Stille sliding in at the back post 2 – 4.
As Valence pushed to get back in the game, Maidstone attacked with numbers on the break, scoring a 5th.
Final Score: 5-2

MOM: Finlay Wishart
Goals: Chris Stille, Chris Sheldon

Team: Finlay Wishart, Steve Parker, Ben Tragett, Tom Willson, Richard Turnill, Mark Whitmill, Alex Hodges, Andy Barr, Chris Stille, Seb O’Leary, Chris Sheldon, Fred McVarish, Jack Davies
Umpire – Andy Delvin

Match Report by Richard Turnill.

Next week the 2nd Xl, in seventh place, play their final game of the season away against Herne Bay 3rd Xl, third in the League, and against whom they narrowly lost 1 : 2 at home in December.