Sutton Valence 3rd XI welcomed local rivals K-Sports 4th XI at Fortress Underhill for a competitive return fixture, eagerly anticipated by both sides.

It was noticeable even before push-back that K-Sports had the edge in terms of youth, mixed with a number of recognisably experienced faces. Cries of “Run at them, that worked well last week” from the young’uns filled Sutton Valence’s less mobile, but strong tackling veterans with joy….easy pickings one thought.

However, Sutton Valence pushed back and fell immediately on the back foot, with one of the yoofs making a nice run up the park, relatively unchallenged, to slot in the first goal within the first two minutes. Was this to set the tone for the entire match? Many would think so, but WE ARE SUTTON VALENCE DON’T YOU KNOW!

Bucking up, and pulling up their socks, Sutton Valence got into their flow, with dynamic middle-pitch trio Bob Bartlett, Darren “no knee” Thompson and Andrew Lee making a number of plays up the pitch to wide players Julian Mills and Roger Fermor.

20 edgy minutes later, Sutton Valence clawed an equaliser. Andrew Lee playing a clever long-ball free hit down the right hand line to Rob Cockayne, who was free to run the majority of the length of the pitch unchallenged, round the last defender, to coolly pass the ball past the goalkeeper. A little pressure relieved.

Andrew Lee was close to losing his DBS Registration with a number of horrendous, filthy, and down right vicious tackles on one poor lad, who was lucky to keep his lateral malleolus intact. Lee’s filthiness continued when a strike from a short corner was walloped into poor Chris Starling’s sternum, leaving him rather winded to say the least.

The second half, with a sudden drop in temperate and a fluttering of sleet, saw the game get a tad scrappy, but still relatively fair, save Andrew Lee continuing to try and kill a child. Julian Mills worked hard, but failed to capitalise on a lovely ball into the K-Sports D, which only needed a touch to scoot past the goalkeeper.

Solid defending from Mike Nettle, David Turner and Andy McVarish allowed Bob Sagrott to make a more midfield roll, which started to create more space for Sutton Valence.

A K-Sports 16 saw Darren Thompson receive a tasty ball to the knee. The tears and screaming distracted the K-Sports defence enough to allow Rob Cockayne to self-take a quick free hit, drive straight into the D and slip the ball to Andrew Lee, who trickily rounded the keeper to slip in Sutton Valence’s second goal. Charlie Worsfold subbed on as a replacement, drawing fear into the very souls of the opposition. Given more pitch time, it was inevitable that we would have seen one of Charlie’s classic diving back post goals, but not today….

Sutton Valence quickly wrapped up the game with a third goal, a quality strike from Bob Bartlett from the top of the D, which was at an awkward height for any keeper to save, rifled upwards into the netting off the keeper’s kicker.

Sausage, chips, and beans anyone?

Teamsheet:
Lee Croucher: John Edmed; Bob Sagrott; Mike Nettle; Julian Mills; Andy McVarish; David Turner; Andy Lee; Bob Bartlett; Roger Fermor; Charlie Worsfold; Rob Cockayne; Darren Thompson; Paul Linaker.

Goals: Rob Cockayne; Andrew Lee; Bob Bartlett.

Umpires: Nick Willson; Stuart Edmed.

The 3rd Xl have no game next week, but are at home on the 11th March against Old Williamsonian 7th Xl.