Page 12 - Raynes Park Vale vs Kingstonian

Match Report 05.11.22
COBHAM 1 RAYNES PARK VALE 3

As Josh Gallagher’s management team, the gloom Archer, who had moved into a slightly
players and supporters travelled down the A3 to deeper 10 position,picked up the ball in midfield
the Reg Madgwick stadium on a gloomy Saturday about 27 yards out, took one look through the
afternoon all could have been forgiven for a mood Cobham defence and blasted a shot over their
of quiet confidence. Unbeaten since the calamitous heads and into the top left of the Cobham goal
2-3 home defest to a determined Guildford City in leaving the Hammers’ stopper and back four
September RPV were on a roll as the hit the road looking frustrated and bemused although, in
into Surrey but, there were some who knew what fairness, it was a goal of such sublime quality that
Cobham can do on the day and tempered their no blame can be attached to the home team.
confidence with caution!
A couple of late substitutions saw Reece Hannigan
With Archie Harland-Goddard nursing an injury and Jaan Stanley come on for Ethon Archer and
Jermaine Green took up the vacant position at Azza Watson and mere minutes after the subs
right back. had entered the ply the whistle blew and the quiet
confidence in the Val camp was justified.
The front three of Aaron Watson, Charlie Penny
and Ethon Archer set out their attacking stll from Coming in the days before a double-header
the very start and the teas were still steaming against in-form Colliers Wood and against a
when a looping ball over the Cobham box was similarly well-performing Redhill this win at
headed back in. Ethon Archer’s head saw the ball Cobham, although ultimately relatively routine,
rise up and Charlie Penny control the ball on his showcased a team of individual talents as well as
chest, swivel and put the ball into the Cobham a team that was clearly getting stronger and more
net from 7 yards out to not only put Vale ahead cohesive. Jermaine Green, Ethon Archer and Billy
but also to bring him into Vales top goal-scorer’s Bishop and Aaron Watson stood out with great
position! performances but, ultimately, this was a win for a
team that is really starting to purr and the post-
The shine slightly came off the atmosphere when a match mood and another 3 points brightened up
poorly judge Vale backpass left keeper Billy Bishop that trip back up the A3.
stranded and allowed Cobham to pounce, picking
up the stray ball and slotting away into the Vale
goal. However the scoreline was reset minutes
later when a trademark Ethon Archer run down the
left saw the Cobham right back left floundering
before whipping in a beautifully weighted cross
that was met, spectacularly by Charlie Penny
with a side-footed running volley. With the half-
time whistle practically at the ref’s lips another
opportunity for The Hammers, who had brought a
new intensity to their game in the final 15 minutes,
drew a spectacular double save from Bishop to see
a lively first half end at 1-2.

The second half saw Louie Downey, who had
picked up an injury in the first half, substituted Ethon Archer - Man of The Match
for Brad Sweeney who then went to on to pick
up a 10 minute sin-binning for some uneccesary
verbals but, with Vale comfortably in control, they
weathered the temporary disadvantage and, soon Match Report: Dom Tait
after the Vale man’s return to the pitch Raynes Photography by Karl Lang
Park extended their lead via a magnificent goal
from Ethon Archer. In the afternoon gathering

12 RAYNESPARKVALE.COM