Sutton Valence 3rd XI welcomed Burnt Ash 6’s for their third league game of the season.

The game started well with both teams evenly splitting possession, with good movement and passing witnessed across the pitch. Sutton Valence saw the bulk of the attacking action, with a number of notable attacks down the right hand side, utilising their pace to create space. The first goal came after about 10 minutes with a break down the right from Chris Stille, barging through a number of tackles, hugging the by-line and drawing a number of defenders in. This left Rob Cockayne unmarked for the slip back for a first time shot past the Burnt Ash keeper.

Sutton Valence then saw a scored a goal midway through the second half, from a trademark short corner strike from front man Duncan Wills following a rapid injection from Tom “Bierfest” Morgan.

Following substitutions to allow Darren Thompson and Andrew Wishart to make their season debuts, Sutton Valence seemed to become lax in their approach to defending, allowing Burnt Ash to pull back to goals in quick succession, despite a number of good saves by stand-in goalkeeper John Edmed.

Burnt Ash suffered a green card for a second deliberate stopping of the ball with the foot from their right back.

The second half saw both teams start to tire from the deceptive heat, and the game slow down and become a tad scrappy. Despite, this both teams persevered and started to utilise the long glory ball to saves their legs.

Burnt Ash unfortunately managed to claw another goal off the back of Sutton Valence leaving a man totally unmarked in the D to make it 3-2.

Sutton Valence responded with a number of attacks, with some lovely balls played into the D by Darren Thompson and Tom Morgan for deflections from Rob Cockayne, all of which were saved by the keeper.

Rob Cockayne then managed to level the game to 3-3 after a flick from Duncan Field was saved by the keeper, launching it over his head for Cockayne to volley into an undefended goal.

Two minutes to go and both teams battled on hard, however Burnt Ash managed to utilise on a defending error from Sutton Valence to clinch the all important last minute winner (albeit the edge was taken off it by Burnt Ash's captain receiving a yellow for backchat to the umpire...)

A good game all round.

Goals: Rob Cockayne (2); Duncan Wills

MoM: John Edmed

Team: John Edmed; Nick Hall; Andy Bye; Alistair Robinson; Tom Morgan; Duncan Field; Darren Thompson; Charlie Tucker; Bob Bartlett; Andrew Wishart; Chris Stille; Rob Cockayne; Duncan Wills.

Next week Sutton Valence 3rd Xl are away at 10.30 am against Old Williamsonians 5th Xl.