Page 16 - Raynes Park Vale vs Banstead Athletic 13.10.20

matCH rePort

RAYNES PARK VALE 0

cB hOuNSLOw uNitEd 0

CCL • Saturday 3rd of October 2020 • Grand Drive, Raynes Park
Vale seemed to lose all vision and cohesion

ome draws feel like wins and some loss- to safety was still in good shape from the
Ses feel like draws. Tough encounters pre-season attention but there was still too
with teams of the quality that we often see many aimless Gary Owens giving posses-
in this league leave us rueing the missed sion back to an opponent who didn't know
opportunities but, perhaps, proud that the what to do with it.
team have weathered a real stormy battle Late changes to inject a bit a life into affairs
and come out of it with a point away from saw Jack Williamson make a much-needed
home. Vale have seen a few of these. Draws appearance and a Hounslow sending off on
when sheer determination has rescued the 72 minutes for a wild, two-footed challenge
90 minutes against the odds. raised the expectations that Vale could still
Then there are the draws that feel like loss- get the three points that they should have
es. Games when you leave everything on had comfortably banked by half-time. In-
the pitch, play the best football you can and stead 90 minutes plus extras was whistled
come away with a measly point for all your and what should have been a comfortable
efforts. win ended up as let-off and with a feeling
And then there are matches like this... that Raynes Park, so good at bossing the
Faced with a team who seemed to be hard games, need to be able to control the
barely on nodding terms with the sport games where they are the better team from
Vale seemed to lose all vision and cohe- the kick-off.
sion. Faced with a CB Hounslow side who
seemed to have decided to stay at home for
the day rather than venture out to SW20
Raynes Park fell apart. Some wayward
passes and missed balls on the wings drew
groans of frustration from players and
fans. A panicky defence made the Houn-
slow strike-force look vaguely competent.
The Grand Drive pitch that can some-
times make hoof-ball the only viable route