Page 38 - Raynes Park Vale v Stansfeld

Match Report chance of the game when their number 9 got credit for that one. Following a num-

hit the post from 20 yards out. The Vale ber of changes for either team, the later
then went and found themselves an op- stages of the second half were unrecog-
WALTON CASUALS 3 portunity up the pitch, only to squander nisable from the rest of the game. Wal-
RAYNES PARK VALE 3 it and end up with the ball in their own ton Casuals had a number of shots and
net after some quick counter attacking crosses which were well dealt with by
play. Not long after, Raynes Park Vale the RPV back line, until an unstoppable
Friendly • Tuesday 4th January 2022 • Walton-on-Thames equalised through a neat cross from freekick brought Casuals back into the

It will have blown away the cobwebs Brad Sweeney finding Jordan Gallagher game. This was closely followed by a fast
at the back post, only to square it back to and nimble winger getting the better of
It’s fair to say that Christmas had not Callum Davies to finish. Soon the boys the RPV back line to squad it across the
turned out the way we may have wished in blue took the lead with Brad Sweeney six yard box for a tap in equaliser.
for in 2021. Many families remained sep- getting on the end of a low cross from At 3-3 the game ended but certainly a
arated due to travel restrictions or isola- Jordan Gallagher. Josh Gallagher’s team performance that can be held with high
tion rules, and even if one had managed went into the break 2-1 up. regard by Josh Gallagher and his team.
to see their family, no doubt Christmas An unstoppable freekick The performance should bring some
socials with work colleagues or dinners Following an initially cagey start to the confidence into the Vale’s next fixture,
with friends were sacrificed. Similarly, second half, RPV managed to get the and at least it will have blown away the
Raynes Park Vale experienced their own ball into the back of the Casuals net fol- cobwebs.
frustrating festive period. Not due to un- lowing a goal line scramble from a wide E.I. Addio
favourable results, but rather to a lack of freekick. We are all still unsure as to who
fixtures being fulfilled.
COVID-19 incident for our Horley Town game, and opted to
The Vale were to take on Cobham away promptly arrange a friendly fixture away
from home on the 18th of December to step 3 high-flyers Walton Casuals on
which was postponed last minute due to Tuesday night. Despite the fixture being
a COVID-19 incident in the opposition a friendly, it was set to be a good phys-
squad. Furthermore, the Molesey fixture ical and mental test coming up against
on the 27th was rescheduled to a later a team two leagues above Raynes Park
date due to a waterlogged pitch. Vale. On the previous occasion the Vale
Good physical and mental test had met similar quality opposition, they
It had been 28 days since RPV had lost 5-1 in the Surrey Senior Cup to Car-
played our last competitive fixture, a shalton Athletic.
break no one had expected, nor would An eventful affair
have wanted, considering the momen- Considering the break that the squad
tum we were carrying at the time of our had taken recently, it was clear that they
3rd Round FA Vase win away to Crawley were eager to get back up and running
Down Gatwick. Nonetheless, manager as the first half proved to be an event-
Josh Gallagher would leave no excuses ful affair. Walton Casuals had the first