Junior Hockey

Oxted visited Sutton Valence for this penultimate match in the South East Mercian League and on a glorious spring day, Sutton overwhelmed their visitors in the sunshine. Oxted competed well but Suttons team work, passing and swift forwards made it clear that it wouldn't be long before the goals arrived. Max Ife took the first following a good move down the left hand side and it was soon made two up with Sam Courtley claiming his first of four with a nice reverse stick shot. Oxted continued to work hard and looked capable players but Nick Holmes worked hard in the mid-field closing down and making great tackles to reclaim the ball.

Suttons defence still wobbled on occasions again getting caught flat and finding it hard to run back once Oxted had got through. Oxted looked like the would score following a good short corner move but much to their frustration the ball hit the post and seemed to spin on the line rather than cross over it. James Stanford scored the first of his hayrick to make it 4-0 at half time.

The second half started with a different Sutton team with five substitutions made to the field and Oxted immediately battled and came back in to the game. Sutton's defence and keeper Will Aldridge worked hard to soak up the pressure and as Sutton failed to retain the ball Oxted's enthusiasm grew.

With the following round of substitutions Sutton were back in control and straight away the goals started to come in. Max Ife getting his second, Tom Edwards lifting it over the keeper and Chris Harrison poaching the ball following a keeper mistake. 11-1 to Sutton on the final whistle, a fantastic team effort by everyone and off to the Queens Head for a well earnt pint ....of coke!!

Sutton's U16's travelled to Holcomb HC for their first match of 2008. Sutton, unbeaten for the first half of the season had to soak up a lot of pressure from Holcomb in the first 15 minutes as good passing by Holcomb and a lack of retaining possession by Sutton, saw most of the action around Sutton's D. However, Sutton's defence held strong and Holcomb lacked a killer forward. Sutton took a lead following a break away with James Stanford linking well with Sam Courtley and Tom Edwards. Holc's came back strong and continued to refuse to let Sutton have things their own way.

The midfield with Max Ife, Nick Holmes, James Watkins and Chris Harrison always looked the stronger - but Holcs moved the ball around well and should have been rewarded had Suttons defence not remained strong. Sutton scored their second from a short corner with a nice hit from Nick Holmes.

The second half saw Sutton retain most of the ball and keep the pressure on Holcs defence - Sutton were rewarded with a third goal and started to look dominant. An injury to Nick Holmes saw Holcs claim a goal as Sutton didn't pick up their markers and Holcs cleverly played a quick free hit to an unmarked player. Sutton responded well by reorganising themselves and two more goals were had. One of the best being a hit from Max Ife out from Sutton's 16 - straight to Jack Davies in Holc's 25 who passed the ball to Sam Courtley who's initial shot was saved by the keeper but swept into the net by James Stanford on the follow up. A consolation 5th goal was taken by Tom Edwards in the last minutes of the game.

This was a solid performance by Sutton but credit was given to Holcs for a good performance and claiming the first goal against Sutton in the Kent League.

Sutton travelled to Tonbridge School for the second time this season but to play Tonbridge Wells in the Mercian League. In what promised to be a tough game, the weather started damp but thankfully held off from being the same as last weeks soaking. Sutton started well and closed TW down quickly forcing mistakes and creating some good chances. James Stanford and Sam Courtley looking dangerous for TWs defence. However, Sutton were not firing on all cylinders and the normal strength from the mid-field was strangely missing.

This allowed TW to create their own momentum and the game developed into an end to end tussle between defence and attack. Sutton's James Stanford scored first following some great link play with Sam Courtley and Tom Edwards on the right. However, TWs came straight back and had a number of shots saved by Sutton's defence led by Phil Beech and Will Aldridge in goal. Sutton also had chances, Chris Harrison shooting over the cross bar and Stanford lashing at an aerial shot wide of the goal. TWs keeper dealt well with other shots from Max Ife, Sam Courtley and Tom Edwards. TWs effort was justly rewarded with a great passing move around Sutton's defence and shot in to the goal leaving Aldridge no chance. TWs mid-filed players failing to be man marked by Sutton's mid-field. 1-1 at half time.

Following a half-time talk which focused on raising the effort from all in the team, pass and move, support and man marking - Sutton started the second half well. The mid-field with Max Ife (Capt), Chigi Patel and James Watkins started to dominate. Use of the wing half's, Edwards and Harrison, saw Sutton retain the ball and keep TW pinned back in their half and Tom Edward was soon rewarded with a goal.

Again, TW looked dangerous on the attack but Sutton defence held strong with Dougie Muir, Ben Gallafant and Josh Luckhurst dealing with most threats, leaving Phil Beech and Will Aldridge to kill off anything getting near Sutton's goal. Max Ife 'got angry' and started to play well driving through TWs mid-field and setting up good opportunities. Tom Edwards moved well to find space in TWs D and much to TWs surprise Tom placed a perfect pass across the goal for James Watkins to hit in a reverse stick shot.

With a 1-3 lead it looked difficult for TW to come back but the last 15 minutes of the game saw TWs have a number of opportunities. One shot only saved by smashing into Will Aldridge's head (good helmet..) and over the cross bar. TWs had a goal disallowed for backing in but deserved more for their efforts.

Definitely a hard game, some of it caused by Sutton's own play, but a great result and deserved win. This sees Sutton completing the first half of the season unbeaten in both the Mercian and Kent leagues, with only 2 goals scored against them and a total of 40 goals for. A great team effort for everyone involved. A Big thank you for the supporters and drivers. Have a fantastic Xmas and well earned rest.

In driving rain and gale force winds SVHC U16 boys met Old Wills for their Kent League match. Both teams and the spectators, looked as if they would rather be doing the pre-Xmas shopping than a game of hockey. Certainly doing a warm-up was difficult as players were drenched and rather cold even before the game started. However, from the start both teams set about getting used to the conditions and it wasn't long before the game looked like it was going to be an even contest. Sutton soon started to play some good hockey with passing moves between the wingers, James Watkins and Chris Harrison, and the center halves, Max Ife (Capt) and Chigi Patel. Old Wills defenders coped well and on the break Old Wills also made good attacking moves.

Sutton started to apply more pressure with the defenders supporting attack so that any clearance from Old Wills was not getting in the SV's half. Sutton's, Chris Harrison scored the first goal supporting an attacking move up the right which allowed him to sweep the ball into the goal. This seemed to spur SV on and a great goal from Sam Courtley following a peach of a pass from James Watkins, saw the ball rocket into the top of the net for Sutton's second. Old Wills fought back and Sutton had to defend a number of attacks and short corners but after 10 minutes of pressure, Sutton's mid-field, Max Ife and Chigi Patel, retook command of the center of the pitch. Sam Courtley scored his third to make it 3-0 at half time.

The second half was similar to the first but with more rain and wind! Old Wills started to slow and Sutton seemed to have all the ball. Any Old Wills attacks were closed down very quickly by Phil Beech, Dougie Muir and Ben Gallafant and Sutton started to get frustrated by Old Wills packing out the D as they defended superbly. Chris Harrison scored his second to make it 4-0 and then a good move and shot saw the fifth goal swept in by an Old Wills defender. Final whistle and 5-0 to SVHC as they continue their unbeaten run with 29 goals for, and 0 goals scored against them. Everyone played well in hard conditions.