This was the first home match for SV, and as normal, there were plenty of players offering their availability. Added to that, the weather was dry and the sun was out early, so it was going to be a good day of hockey. KP won the coin toss, and chose the advantage of playing away from the sun, SV had pushback. Unfortunately, KP had struggled to get a team together, and only managed to field 10 players, so SV were feeling confident and looking to take the win. However, SV were swiftly reminded by a returning SV veteran goalkeeper Lee “Dutchie” Croucher not to be complacent and get too over confident. Wise words…

SV started well, moving the ball and with accurate passing between players, making their intentions well known to KP, taking the game into their half from the off. There were several attempts to penetrate the opposition’s D, with a strong KP defence keeping the balance, however, this deadlock was broken by Kevin Kirkham, who picked up the ball outside the D, and in usual style twiddled past several defenders to reverse stick flick past the keeper to take SV to 1-0 up. This was closely followed by a break in play leaving Chris Sheldon and Tom Willson 2 on 1 with the KP goalie, allowing Chris to make a square pass to waiting Tom, who swiftly pushed it home to go 2-0 up.

Even though the pre-match talk was to keep things simple and not get over confident SV were feeling that this game was going their way, so started to take a few more risks with their passing, trying to pick out players up front, which allowed KP to get back in the game. Their central midfield player, who was KPs standout player, started stepping up the gears, deciding that there needed to be a levelling of the scores. He was clinical in clearing the SVs defence and swiftly slotting one away, closely followed by a series of 5 or 6 short corners, with the SV keeper making save after save, but then eventually taking the second goal. KP 2-2.

Half time was a time to reset the balance and get the structure back, so SV started the second half with a renewal of the original starting line-up. SV, determined to take the win, started strong attacking the KP goal, earning a short corner, where the push out went to Ben Tragett, who placed a shot from the top into the left corner of the goal. SV 3-2. KP feeling the need to level the scores again, after a few attempts at the SV goal, the original goal scorer slotted another into the SV goal. KP 3-3.

The game started to stretch out, with SV getting breaks in play, using the width, running the line and getting balls into the D, unfortunately, with too many going past, but finally, George Gaston found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper, and tucked it away nicely. SV 4-3 up. Once again, SV found themselves defending from the KP midfielder, who was again running at the SV goal deciding to level the scores, after tracking outside the D, he turned in, shot at goal and into the side netting. KP 4-4.

SV were not out of the picture yet and with KP starting to tire, it just needed strong words from Andy Lee to energise them. Lots of space had opened up for the attacking SV, with some quick passing of SV and movement off the ball, this was allowing more attempts on goal, and finally, it resulted in finding Andy Lee on the back post, where he calmly tapped the ball in, SV 5-4. This was to be the decisive and final goal, leaving the final score at SV 5-4, and a win to SV.

It was a gallant effort from KP with just 10 players, but the tenacity of the SV players took the win in the end.

Goals: Kevin Kirkham; Tom Willson; Ben Tragett; George Gaston; Andy Lee.

MoM: Tom Willson.

Team: Lee Croucher, Chris Johnson, Steve Parker, Rob Bray, Richard Turnill, Ben Tragett, Marius Dreyer, Andy Barr, Tom Willson, Tom Bartlett, Chris Sheldon, George Gaston, Kevin Kirkham, Andy Lee, Chris Stille.
Umpires: Iain Simmons; Andrew Wishart.

Match report by Chris Sheldon.

Next week Sutton Valence 2nd XI are away at 15.00 against Old Williamsonians 3rd Xl.