Valence welcomed Folkestone on a bright and surprisingly warm October morning. With the average age of the Folkestone players being slightly lower than Valence's they knew this wasn't going to be a game where they could outpace their opponents.
The game started brightly with Valence taking charge of the early stages with good passing and movement off the ball, carving pockets of space between the Folkestone players allowing for several attacking chances to be created. Duncan Wills continued his fine form from last week opening the scoring once again. Folkestone looked dangerous on the break but the Valence defence held firm and goalkeeper Stewart Young was equal to anything that came his way.
The second half continued in a similar vein with Valence dictating the majority of the play. Tom Morgan added a second goal with a strike into an empty goal after the keeper had saved his initial shot. Benchwarmer Rob Cockayne added a 3rd, taking him into double figures already this season, before Alex Hodges scored the pick of all of Valence's goals with an unstoppable run from left back to the top of the opposition D where he managed to keep his feet, despite a cynical push in the back from the Folkestone defender, and casually pass the ball under the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Valence closed out the game in relative comfort to win 4-0 despite one hair-raising moment that needed a goal-line clearance to maintain the second consecutive clean sheet of the season.

Goals: Duncan Wills; Tom Morgan; Rob Cockayne; Alex Hodges.

Team: Stewart Young; Duncan Field; Alastair Robinson; Duncan Wills; James Abrahams; Charlie Tucker; Chris Sheldon; Simon Myers; Alex Hodges; Tom Morgan; Tom Willson; Ben Tragett; Dan Brooks.
Umpires: Iain Simmons; Mark Whitmill.

Next week the 2nd Xl are away against Sevenoaks 8th Xl at Hollybush Lane at 13.30.

Match Report by James Abrahams.