Work starts on fortress Salesians

And so the first home game of the season saw a changed XI from the side that lost the previous week. In came some of the big guns, legends from recent past.

It was the strike force that included two Masters from the 1998 league winning side, Stuart Wilkins and Marc Fisher. Their inclusion was a tactical ploy from Biddle to hit for goal as early as possible and try and mop up any failed clearences.

Valley go close at short corner.

Valley attacked from the off and Stuart nearly bagged a goal from the first attack, hitting the ball narrowly wide. The early pressure from Valley resulted in a few Short corners which went tantalisingly close.

The Old MWs were finding it difficult to get out of their half and when they did, the defence mopped up all they could throw at Valley abely marshalled by John

Valley came even closer to scoring when a shot from Stuart was deflected by JC and it screwed onto the post and was cleared.

The second half started and after some tactical changes from Bidds, Valley pressed on again. George Lighfoot was the star man with his powerful running and it was from one of his runs that Valley scored. From the resultant short corner, the ball came to Stuart and he belted the ball onto the back board with one of his trademark finishes.

Thomas receives the ball

One nil to Valley and as they pressed for another Old MW were able to break a bit more and created a few changes at the other end. The Valley defensive unit was standing firm and were clearing the lines well.

Valley broke up the other end and Stuart released George down the middle. He scampered past the first defender who pushed him onto his reverse side. George then scooped the ball up on the reverse and it flew past the keeper into the top of the net. Quite a goal!

This finally broke the spirit of the Old MWs and Valley pushed forward again and again. JC sneaked over to the left side, cut into the D went in on the keeper and miscued the pullback to Stuart who was poised, ready for his second goal

JC fails to find Stewart

Valley had won the first Home game of the season, hopefully many more were to come...

Thanks to Bails for Umpiring and Jane for her photographic skills.

[Ed: Thanks to JC for the match report ]