A late afternoon trek down to the coast for a 3.30pm push-back saw the Sutton Valence 2s engaging in a mild game of hide-and-seek. Between late arrivals and players wandering aimlessly in search of their own squad, it wasn't the smoothest pre-game gathering. Yet, with a grand total of three substitutes lining the bench, more than we’d managed across all five previous games combined, we pitched up ready for what promised to be a genuine titan clash between two of the league's top sides.

The opening exchanges lived up to the billing. Both teams tore into the first half with real vigor, trading clear cut chances from end to end. Some unfortunate short corner routines went begging for the village, and when the umpire's whistle signaled the break, the scoreline remained delicately poised at 0-0.

The second half exploded into life, though not without drama. Folkestone drew first blood, after what was a great interception by Young in goal was followed, open-goal finish. Folkestone soon doubled their lead with another stroke of luck, leaving us staring down a two goal deficit.

Enter the team on steroids. Refusing to lie down, the Sutton Valence erupted into life. Willson capped off a superbly worked team move up the pitch to notch our first, and he quickly doubled his tally moments later after a sequence of intricate, silky passing on the right courtesy of Blanchard, Hodges, and Angel. Game on.

While our defense remained resolute throughout the afternoon, Folkestone were forever menacing on the counter and managed to break quickly to snatch their third.

Still, we refused to give up the chase. Up stepped Lee at a late short corner, he unleashed a blistering strike straight along the turf... only for the ball to somehow end up in the very roof of the net. How it got up there, no one knows, but it counted all the same.

It was fast, thoroughly enjoyable, and on the balance of play, both teams fully deserved their share of the points in a dramatic 3-3 draw.

Report By: Seb O'Leary

Goals: Tom Willson x2, Andrew Lee

Team:
Stewart Young - 1
Russel Blanchard - 2
Stephen Parker - 36
Zak Blanchard - 66
Chris Johnson - 7
Seb O'Leary - 43
Brett Angel - 20
Tom Willson - 31
Alex Hodges - 70
Chris Stille - 77
Chris Sheldon - 15
Andrew Lee - 55
Ben Tragett - 34
Sameer Amin - 73

Next Match: New Beccehamian (H) 09:45pb