The Numbers arrived in Horsmonden with a full squad of 14 with Sykes having to leave players out of the match day squad. Buckland arrived 40 minutes after kick off, meaning Barnham started at right back and Goldsmith had recruited Jamie Barker to play in goal giving Sykes an opportunity to play outfield at left back behind Nowak.

Prime started well and created chances on the boggy, uneven pitch in Horsmonden. After some good player between the midfield of Abu, Westcott and Taylor the energetic Abu took the ball in his path and was unfortunate the ball held up in the mud, preventing him with a chance on goal. Nowak also had a chance when the ball was charged down and he had time and space inside the box but instead of choosing an square pass to Excell or Westcott he was hunted down by the Valour defenders and the chance had gone.

After some sustained pressure from the away side Valour found themselves 1-0 up in fortunate circumstances, despite an obvious handball from the striker the referee waved play on and with Goldsmith and Sykes lunging in, smashed it past Barker in goal leaving the Prime defenders furious and the referee claiming the linesman doesn’t make those decisions.

Despite the good start Prime were rattled and had it not been for several blocks from the central defenders of Goldsmith and Cary the game could have quickly been out of reach. Despite their heroics, Valour still managed another goal.

The ball was spending more and more time in the Prime defensive half and the heavy pitch was starting to take its toll on Barnham’s legs. This was evident when he lunged into a tackle whole-heartedly with the Valour winger lucky to have seen him coming and skipped out the way.

Valour then managed to grab their 3rd goal of the game when a freekick was only headed up rather than away by Sykes and Cary failed to shout for the ball which left them both stood watching the striker stick the ball beyond Barker.

Prime rallied before half time and a cross-shot from Taylor was their best opportunity to getting a foot hold in the game however the Valour keeper at full stretch caught the ball and gathered it cleanly, the most action he saw the whole game.

The referee blew for half time and Prime needed to regroup and start getting the ball down the wings to create more chances.

The Numbers made a much better start to the second half and were more compact. Buckland, with his freshly cleaned boots, came on early in the second half for the hard working Dave Barnham.

The regular onslaught of attacks from Valour were regularly blocked or cut off by the rocks Goldsmith and Cary, Abu was chasing the midfield of Valour and breaking up attacks with Westcott making some crucial interceptions. Abu and Westcott were at the centre of any attacks Prime made, spreading the ball wide to Nowak, Sykes and Taylor.

Siekanka came on for the tired Nowak and Excell moved to the left wing. Siekanka added an extra dimension to the Prime attack and was direct with his movements and runs. He was creating space and was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet a better quality pitch and he could be adding to his goal tally for this season.

Before the final substitute of Abraham, Goldsmith conceded a freekick on the edge of the box after hauling down the Valour substitute, which he then just curled wide. Abraham came on for Excell who played well and gave Prime another outlet down the left wing with his pace. He was unfortunate not to open his Ashton Prime account when the ball came to him on the left side of the penalty box, but the Valour defenders once again got a block in.

Despite the resilience of the Prime defence and Barker pulling off a fine fingertip save, with Sykes up field and out of position, Valour broke down their right and with fresher legs against Cary and Goldsmith crossed the ball and scored a 4th goal which was harsh on Prime as they had been an equal match to the top side Valour.

Prime will go to Capel next week hopeful they find their scoring boots and turn in a better performance in the 1st half to stop them chasing the game in the 2nd.