The 3s travelled with a much-changed side. After the first 10 minutes, there was a feeling amongst the older folk that this could end up being a cricket score. Plenty of saves by Tom Lunn, a sturdy defence and lack of accuracy from the Valence forwards ensured we struggled through. With a new group of players, it took some time to blend but with very few, if any, chances. After some promising endeavours but still no shots, we managed to gain a penalty corner - up trundles ‘The Postman’ (Nick Barton) with his usual air of authority and duly scores in the top corner. Stomach punch to Valence.
With confidence growing we started to cause a few more problems and after some ‘tiki taka’ by Ronnie and Will, the ball came to debutant Mike Adams, who took all the pace off the shot, befuddling the keeper and scoring. 0 - 2 halftime.

The game started to open a little, with chances for both teams. We should have had a flick for a ‘tackle from the tractor’ as Brunders was shooting but the umpire played advantage as the ball bobbled goalbound - thankfully for Valence, McVey cleared it off the goal-line! As tiredness and lack of fitness set in, a few errors were starting to creep into our game. Uncharacteristically, Nick B felt sympathy for the pain he inflicted earlier, slipped the ball to their forward from a 16 and they were back in the game. After 20+ attempts, Valence finally succeeded from a penalty corner (rather dubious), drew level and that’s how the game finished.
With all the new faces and selection tribulations through the week, a draw would have been taken before the game but there was frustration we’d not held on - Sutton Valence were the unhappier of the two teams. We were buoyed after their keeper informed us their 1s game had been cancelled by themselves and few of them had turned out for this game! There were successful and promising performances from all the debutantes with Player of the Match going to Ronnie White. Overall, great to be back playing followed by a lovely pub lunch, in a sunny Queen’s Head beer garden with a jug of Goachers.
Final score 2-2