And so dear friends, sportsmen and players of the great game, we come to the end of the season and the last game against Newenden. They arrive at Cranbrook already League champions, promoted, and we wish them well. At Christmas, SV drew 3-3 but today it was a very different SV side that came to play in the valley at Cranbrook. We all arrived early, using the sun to warm our calfs, backs and tops of heads, stretching on the bank beside the pitch awaiting Newenden to be able to open the pitch. After much discussion, keys to padlocks were found, it was a perilously close run at 14 mins and 55 seconds post PB time, when we managed to gain access to the pitch, else it would be a 5-0 walkover to SV. Sadly Phil Morrison was not to play today, as 12 years ago he played at Marden for SVHC with this Author (in the author’s first game at SV, it was a short game for the author (90 seconds at start of second half - torn calfs the issue).. this irrelevant segway is only to advise the dear reader that it is the Author’s last game for SVHC before moving to Bucks later in the year… we digress … the pitch awaits.
Onwards to the pitch they walked, Onwards to the dugout their home
Onwards, playing their style with grace and wry smile.
To the goal they hoped when they had the ball
While ducking and diving to defend their own, alas hard defence was no match to Newenden’s scorers.
We were playing against youth (more than 30yrs younger and 20 yrs more skilled) so this Author and his playing mates ( excluding young Henry and younger Jack) were run at hard, with good skills and so opportunities kept coming for Newenden, by 15 mins it was 2 down and SV looked hard at themselves hoping this was not going to be 10+ goal thrashing..
As “General” Morgan and “Sergeant” Thompson continued to drive higher efforts from the SV Team, Henry R stopping more shots on goal and with Al R and Duncan F working wider channels, we started to play hockey, when we had the ball. There was much better passing under pressure, we listened and made tackles a-plenty, hoping to come away with the ball. Not too frequently though to allow Jack and Chris to get into the opposition D. This game was being played in spurts of effort at keeping Newenden at bay whilst hoping to find “General” Morgan playing Centre Forward via a quick pass or two..
Alas looking at the match stats, it was clear Newenden had more possession of the ball by at least a 1/3 and so it was a 3rd goal was had before half-time.
Half-time talk from Coach Henry R was to force the channels and push Newenden wide ..
Second half SV’s top scorer Rob C had a few opportunities in the warming sun to redress the scoresheet, however with a near open goal in front of him, he managed at 4 metres to shank his shot wide and high of the goal while falling backwards.. Sheldon snr had a few harder opportunities, but each one somehow failed to strike the backboard.
As our injury count was higher than our goals scored, we found more steam in the last 10 mins with a renewed defence of Gander, Bye, Hall and Cockayne, midfield now being Field, Thompson, Morgan and Wishart, with Sheldons up front..
Just like the charge of the “light brigade” (which we to a man are not) we continued to charge their goal, alas in vain.
Honour to us for playing with heart, but the spoils to Newenden.

From this Author; Farewell to you all, best wishes for next season and your families too.
And many thanks for the very touching guard of honour at the end of the game as well as the beer tankard to hold these memories within presented at the Club Dinner!!! Cheers

Team: Henry Robinson; Nick Hall; Adrian Gander; Darren Thompson; Andy Bye; Andrew Wishart; Tom Morgan; Chris Sheldon; Jack Sheldon; Alastair Robinson; Rob Cockayne; Duncan Field.

Match report by Andrew Wishart.