Sutton Valence 3rd XI struggle to victory

Sutton Valence 3rd XI reached their seventh consecutive win over Maidstone on a toasty Saturday afternoon.

Neither team looked spectacular from the start, struggling to cope with the warmth and rather slow pitch.

Alex Stanford opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game. A loose ball in the D fell to Rob Cockayne, who reverse sticked the ball across the face of the goal to Stanford to tuck the ball in at the back post.

Stuart Edmed extended the lead soon after with one of the most bizarre goals seen this season. The ball was rocketed into Edmed at the top of the D, who controlled it with a fine cricket shot. The goalkeeper however thought that the contact with the ball was outside the D, much to his frustration when the whistle blew to allow the goal.

During the second half Rob Cockayne managed to secure the third goal after running into the D, and slip the ball in past the keeper, who had started to advance to cover the player at the back post, leaving a huge gap at the front post.

Darren Thompson wrapped up the game with the fourth goal. He injected the ball to Cockayne, who slipped it back to Thompson for a reverse flick into the top corner of the goal.

A 4-0 win in a highly frustrating game for both teams. Onwards and upwards!

Goals: Alex Stanford; Stuart Edmed; Rob Cockayne; Darren Thompson.

Team: Rob Cockayne; Mark Whitmill; Andrew McVarish; Stuart Edmed; Mike Nettle; Rod Harcourt; John Edmed; David Turner (G); Darren Thompson; Tom Ireland; Julian Mills; Alex Stanford.

Match report by Rob Cockayne.

Next week the 3rd Xl are at home against Folkestone 7th Xl at 09:45 on Sutton Valence School astro.