Sutton Valence welcomed Gillingham Anchorians on a bitterly cold morning to the fortress that is Sutton Valence Prep School. Sutton Valence started strongly spending much of the early part of the game camped in the Anchorians' half but the opponents put up staunch resistance and denied Sutton Valence the chance to take an early lead through some solid defending.

The game continued evenly with some lovely passages of play from Sutton Valence, with Alastair Robinson, Jack Sheldon and Duncan Field making a number of breaks from midfield. Anchorians were unlucky not to score, a heroic slide and goal line clearance from over-committed captain Nick Hall denying Anchorians a well worked goal. The half turned into a more even match as Anchorians grew into the game but Sutton Valence always felt like the goal was coming. Eventually after a quick 16 from a defensive short corner, Sutton Valence broke quickly and Rob Cockayne cracked the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the circle to give Sutton Valence a deserved lead.

Sutton Valence continued to play well throughout the second half in all areas of the pitch and eventually added a second through a well worked, and semi-planned, short corner routine, injected by Darren Thompson, pushed across the face of the goal by Rob Harrison to Jack Sheldon who deflected into the goal at the far post.

The second half saw plenty of goal mouth action from both sides, including a trade mark air shot from seasoned striker Duncan Wills, taking his goal tally for the season to date into negative figures.

Anchorians had a goal disallowed mid-way through the second half, with a short corner strike deflecting in off keeper Stewart Young, but the umpires ruling that the initial strike from the short corner was rising above the backboard.

Anchorians managed to pull one goal back late in the second half but Sutton Valence saw out the remainder of the match in relative comfort, much to the disappointment of the travelling fans, to see out what was a deserved and convincing win that reflected the performances all over the pitch.

MoM: Alastair Robinson

Team: Stewart Young; Nick Hall; Rob Harrison; James Abrahams; Alastair Robinson; Jack Sheldon; Darren Thompson; Duncan Field; Stuart Edmed; Duncan Wills; Rob Cockayne; Oliver Sheldon.
Umpires: Iain Simmons; Bob Bartlett.

Match report by James Abrahams.

Next week the 3rd Xl are away against Sevenoaks 8th Xl at 10.30.