3rd Xl fight for a draw against Anchorians.

Valence arrived at Anchorians unsure of what they were about to face. It has been some time since they have had an Anchorians’ side in their League but, based on their previous results, it looked like it could be a challenging game.
Anchorians started the game sharply and immediately put the visitors under pressure, attacking with wave after wave of players with good movement off the ball giving them plenty of options to pass and making the Valence defence work hard, with help from the midfield dropping back. Eventually Anchorians found a chink in the armour on a fast break, overloading the defence and finding an unmarked forward in the D to finish the move.
Valence picked their game up from here and put together some attacks of their own, with Seb O’Leary finding Rob Cockayne to score from close range. Any hopes of this turning the tide of Anchorian pressure were dashed as they responded almost immediately to restore their lead.
At half-time Valence focussed on the positives and how to use this to fight their way back into the match, and in the second half started to come into their own some more. Valence again found an equaliser through another Cockayne goal and then stunned Anchorians by taking the lead through a goal from Andrew Wishart.
Anchorians came back strong knowing that they needed to salvage something from the match, winning a short corner. Goalkeeper Finlay Wishart then jinxed his defence by uttering the words, “They haven’t scored from a short corner so far.” Anchorians promptly converted a well worked short corner routine and the match ended before Valence could muster any sort of reply.
Scorers: Cockayne (2); A Wishart

Team: Finlay Wishart, Nick Hall (c), Andrew Wishart, James Abrahams, Alex Hodges, Chris Jackson, Duncan Field, Seb O’Leary, Julian Mills, Rupert Humphrey, Rob Cockayne, Marius Dreyer
Umpire - Bob Bartlett
Next week the 3rds are due to play key competitors from last season K Sports 2nd Xl at home.

Match Report by James Abrahams.