Valence welcomed Ashford to the Holcombe Sports Arena for their first 'home' league match of the season. Both sides brought their knobs to the game, but for once Ashford’s knob out-knobbed our knob.
Having moved up a League this year Valence have noticed the step up in quality of the oppositions they have faced so far, and this match was no exception. Ashford were strong across the midfield and took charge for most of the first half, dominating possession and looking threatening up-front, keeping Valence keeper Finlay Wishart busy. What little possession Valence had was largely wasted, with inconsistent passing and bad choices on the ball. Eventually Valence could hold back the tide no longer and Ashford opened the scoring. Still Ashford gave Valence no respite and soon added a second and thought they had a third only to see it ruled out as their striker had 'forgotten' that he had chested the initial save down before tapping it into the goal. With no attempt at honesty it was down to the umpires to intervene instead awarding a short corner which Ashford failed to convert.
In the second half, Valence started to come back into the match, holding their shape better and having a few chances of their own. Valence pulled one back through the intoxicated Ricky O'Neill (who thought he may be having a heart attack during the warm up). Buoyed by this, Valence continued to battle in all areas of the pitch but it was Ashford who struck next, sneaking a goal from the tightest of angles at a short corner. Valence managed to pull one more back through Rob Cockayne who managed to put the ball through the on-rushing keeper’s legs whilst the rest of the team watched with their hearts in their mouths expecting him to miss (again). This goal proved to be too little too late for Valence, as the game ended a few minutes later.

Goals: Rickie O’Neill; Rob Cockayne.

Team: Finlay Wishart, Nick Hall, Rob Harrison, Neil Hollingsworth, Adrian Gander, Ricky O’Neill, Duncan Field, Darren Thompson, James Abrahams, Duncan Wills, Rob Cockayne, Andrew Wishart, Alex Hodges
Umpire: Iain Simmons

Next week the 3rd Xl are away against Sevenoaks 7th Xl.

Match report by James Abrahams.