Page 11 - Raynes Park Vale vs Sutton Common Rovers

RAYNES PARK VALE 23|24 UP THE VALE

MATCH Date SAT 16TH DEC 2023
REPORT Kick off 15:00 Attendance 177

Competition
SOUTH-CENTRAL
RAYNES PARK VALE 4 BINFIELD 0

With results going Raynes Sure enough, four minutes later, goal saw Sweeney and Jordan
Park’s way in the run up to the a beautiful Brad Sweeney cross Gallagher combine to to put Vale
festive season there was an from the right was met, for a into cruise-mode on 3-0.
air of optimism at Grand Drive sweet tap-in, by Jordan Gallagher
With confidence high, Raynes
as the teams came out on a to put Vale ahead.
Park turned on the style with
mild Saturday afternoon to
Undeterred, Binfield continued to some great through-balls on the
play Binfield FC. A series of
press and a well-taken strike from right that saw Brad Sweeney in
wins and the continuation of a
17 yards out was spectacularly lung-busting action to put balls
remarkable defensive record
dealt with by Billy Bishop on 25 into the Binfield box and a shot
that saw Billy Bishop’s backline
minutes with the home tactic that, but for a couple of inches
crowned defensive champions,
of playing the ball across the of woodwork, could have been
stood in contrast to Binfield’s
back,0 in readiness for the next a contender for Goal of The
disappointing recent record.
attack, looking decidedly risky as Season.
The visitor’s league woes gave Binfield’s front three continued
On 71 minutes a reckless
Vale fans some confidence and to make life difficult for the Vale
challenge on Jordan Gallagher
with the home support in good defence.
gave the ref no option but to
voice this match got under way.
With half-time looming Brad point to the spot. Gallagher took
However, despite the statistical Sweeney, who was outstanding the penalty that hit the bar and
difference, any initial hopes of all day, took a shot at the away looped back into the area where
an easy win were dented by a goal. The Binfield keeper did well Brad Sweeney crowned his
physical presence from Binfield to stop the effort but just set it up afternoon by tucking away the
who clearly hadn’t come to for Cal Hope to fire into the top- loose ball, neatly into the net.
SW20 to be the Xmas turkeys. A right corner.
With the game effectively over
swift attacking trio put the Vale
The second half saw a more Vale saw out the remaining
defence under pressure from the
confident Raynes Park come minutes and, with results around
start but, with just two minutes
out and a late challenge on Cal them going their way, Josh
gone, tragedy struck with Binfield
Hope earned the Binfield keeper Gallagher’s men left the pitch with
top scorer, Dontaye Wittaker,
a yellow and Vale a dangerous a good deal to be festive about.
coming down with a leg injury
free kick. The free kick went wide
that saw the end of his afternoon Match report by:
but, less than ten minutes later, an
and a real blow to the visitors’
almost identical setup to their first
chances. Mark Ferrari
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