Holcombe HC 7 – 0 Sutton Valence HC

On a sunny but cold Saturday afternoon, Sutton Valence HC made the short journey up the hill to the complex of excellence that is Holcombe HC, fully aware they were facing one of the most clinical sides in the league. Holcombe had been peppering in goals in recent weeks, but confidence remained high in the SV camp, buoyed by strong recent performances and a belief that this was the kind of occasion where they tend to raise their game.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested, with SV adopting a bold approach — attack as the best form of defence against a side so accustomed to scoring freely. It proved a sensible tactic early on, as the visitors competed admirably, matched Holcombe physically and technically, and held firm through the initial battles.

The deadlock was broken in controversial fashion. A lofted ball rose so high that the SV centre-back leapt and caught it instinctively to avoid being struck. Despite protests, a free hit was awarded. Taken quickly, it caught the SV defence unprepared and Holcombe capitalised to make it 1–0. It was a moment that would set the tone for a frustrating afternoon.

From there, SV refused to retreat. In fact, they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory. If Match of the Day-style statistics were available, they would likely show around 60–40 possession in favour of the visitors, with close to 70% of the game played in the Holcombe half. SV pressed, probed and created — and created plenty.

The visitors earned an impressive 13 short corners over the course of the match, yet agonisingly failed to convert a single one. Holcombe, by contrast, were ruthless. The home side had less chances and finished all with clinical efficiency, showcasing a level of composure and striking prowess that would not look out of place several leagues higher.

Despite the scoreboard reading 7–0 at full time, it never truly felt like a seven-goal gulf between the sides. SV made a plethora of chances and dominated large spells, but sport can be brutally unforgiving. Holcombe took every opportunity offered; SV, despite their enterprise, were left empty-handed.

Sutton Valence now look ahead to another away fixture next week, encouraged by their attacking intent and overall performance, but hoping that the final touch returns to match the quality of their build-up play. On another day, this could have been a very different story.

Report By: James Willmott

Team:
Ross Mackay
James Abrahams
Nick Hall
Olly Sheldon
Stuart Edmed
Alastair Robinson
Duncan Field
James Aldrich
Alex Stanford
Alex Sandburg
James Willmott
Duncan Wills
Seb O'Leary
Julian Mills

Next Match: New Beccehamian (A) 10:30