Two on the trot for Sutton Valence 3rd X1

Off the back of a hard-fought win the week before, Sutton Valence 3rd XI travelled away to Gravesham & Wellcome 4th XI.

From the push back Gravesham looked a well drilled team with short, sharp and accurate passing. It took a while for Sutton Valence to find their feet, but when they did, they looked threatening. Gravesham, were unlucky not to get early goals, with a number of fast balls played across the goal-mouth, only requiring a tap in, but no strikers in sight. Goalkeeper Mark Whitmill made a number of quality saves to keep the score level.

In a break against play, Sutton Valence took the lead following a tenacious dart down the right-hand side from Alex Stanford, who fooled the keeper into rushing out and logging, only to tap it round him and smash a shot in from the edge of the D.

Sutton Valence increased their lead not two minutes later from a great run down the pitch from Chris Stille, who slipped it to Rob Cockayne to sweep into the bottom corner of the goal. Two nil at half time didn’t necessarily reflect the run of play.

Early into the second half Gravesham did manage to claw a goal back, but this was soon cancelled out by Andrew Lee scoring a short corner strike. Some say it was a duff, some say it was a pass, but in the words of Andrew Lee, “that is the best goal you are going to see all season”.

A green card for Mike Nettle for questioning an umpiring decision, shortly followed by a yellow card for Bob Bartlett for sarcastic remarks ("no….you don’t say?!"), lead to a few nervous minutes for Sutton Valence, but thankfully they had strength in their squad to shift positions around to cover the gaps, and some solid defending from David Turner, Andy Bye and Tom Ireland.

Sutton Valence increased their lead to 1-4 soon after with another sweeping goal from unmarked Rob Cockayne, again assisted by Chris Stille.

Gravesham managed to score a late consolation goal to finish the game 2-4.

Goals: Rob Cockayne (2); Alex Stanford; Andrew Lee

Team: David Turner; Rob Cockayne; Paul Linaker; Alex Stanford; Bob Bartlett; Tom Ireland; Mike Nettle; Julian Mills; Andy Lee; Chris Stille; Andy Bye; Mark Whitmill; John Edmed.

Match report by Rob Cockayne.

Next week there is no hockey but the 3rd Xl are at home on the 4th November against Holcombe Heroes.