Sutton Valence match report 31/01/2026
It was a warm winter's day at Sutton Valence's home ground. Valence was ready to score some points after the loss at last week's game against Gillingham Anchorians.

Both teams started with a bare 11.Sutton Valence looked at Marden, seeing that their team looked slightly younger than their own and with a bare 11, it might be a bit tough to match the younger team's fitness. Nevertheless, the game started with Sutton Valence on the attack, keeping most of the possession with great passes, moving the ball around from the defence to the midfield, then to the attackers up front. However, they struggle to put any away, hitting the posts and keeper countless times with a few just wide of the goal, till Sutton Valence managed to get a few short corners. Sutton Valence tried a few different tactics until a slip to Andrew Lee resulted in a goal. This was the first of a few goals for Sutton Valence. With both team haveing a bare 11, both teams were playing it safe and avoiding injury till a hit down the wing from Marden made contact with Chris Stille's head and was knocked to the floor, time was called as he took himself off, but he courageously re-joined the game 10 mins later. During the time that Sutton Valence was one man down marden tried to capitalise on the numbers advantage, but the iron wall of Sutton Valence's defence of Russel Blanchard, Steve Parker and Mark Whitmill held the Marden attacks off till the end of the first half. 1:0 at the end of the first half.

After an inspiring team talk and a slight change in tactics. Sutton Valence took a while to adjust to the new position. Sutton Valence was on yet another break, but lost it at the top of the pitch, then Marden was on the counterattack after a few long passes to one of Marden's younger players, using their youth, ran it around Sutton Valence's defenders and had a strike at goal and hit it in the back of the net. This made it 1:1. Sutton Valence, not letting this go the way of the last few games, were on another attack, and the ball was hit into the D by Ben Tragett. Alex Hodges took rebond off the keeper and took it around the keeper and slotted it in the goal. Score was now 2:1, Sutton Valence need another to help secure the win, and Chris Johnson and Hodges obliged. Johnson received a deflection off the keeper, then found Hodges in the D for a deflection straight behind the keeper into the goal. 3:1 After this goal, Marden started to push back as Sutton Valence started to relax. With several runs into Sutton Valence's half and a few shots on goal, but they couldn't get past Andrew Hornsey in goal. In the final 15 mins, Sutton Valence decided to secure the victory. Lee received a pass from Tragett at the top D took it around the keeper and buried it into the right-hand corner, getting another goal. 4:1 Then, as a final nail in the coffin, Hodges received a pass from Brett Angle, stormed through 3 players and slotted it between the keeper's legs, making it 5:1.

Well done to Sutton Valence for their win in the local derby against Marden

Goals: Andrew Lee x2 , Alexander Hodges x3
Report By: Alexander Hodges

Team:
Alexander Hodges
Andrew Hornsey
Ben Tragett
Brett Angel
Chris Johnson
Mark Witmil
Chris Stile
Harrison Sharpe
Russel Blanchard
Steve Parker
Andrew Lee

Next Match: Old Williamsonians (H) 13:30