On a Sunny October afternoon, Sutton Valence 3rd XI were swept aside by a ruthless Holcombe Hurricanes side in a performance that lived up to their name.
The visitors came flying out of the gates, dictating the pace and tearing through the Valence midfield with ease. Their standout midfielder glided across the pitch, dancing around defenders and pulling the strings from the centre as Holcombe racked up four goals in the first half alone.
As the backline struggled to contain the onslaught, the Sutton Valence goalkeeper became both last line of defence and part-time field marshal - bellowing like a walrus at his defenders to "mark up properly!" His vocal efforts were matched by some fine shot-stopping, denying Holcombe an even bigger lead with a series of excellent saves.
There were bright spots for the home side. The returning Charlie Tucker put in a shift on the right, and Stuart Edmed stood out for his energy and commitment, battling hard in both directions.
The halftime whistle brought a much-needed pause and a stern team talk for Sutton, and the second half saw a marked improvement. The defence held firmer, the midfield pressed harder, and although Holcombe added a fifth goal, the home side prevented a complete rout.
Holcombe were undoubtedly the better side - faster, sharper, and more cohesive - but Sutton showed enough grit, passion, and personality to build on. With a few tactical tweaks and players returning to full form, better days are ahead for the 3rd XI.

Report By: Darren Thompson

Ross Mackay
Adrian Gander
Olly Sheldon
James Willmott
Charlie Tucker
Stuart Edmed
Rod Harcourt
Alastair Robinson
Rob Harrison
Alex Stanford
Alex Sandburg
Jonah Harcourt
Darren Thompson

Next Match: New Beccehamian M3 (H) 11:15