Sutton Valence 3rd XI extended their winning streak to six consecutive matches with an 8-1 win over Sevenoaks 9th XI, on a horrendously cold and wet match at Sutton Valence Prep School.

Sevenoaks looked the keener of the two teams during the first ten minutes of the game, controlling the game through the middle of the pitch.

Sutton Valence broke the deadlock with a subline top D strike from Nick Worsfold, which rocketed into the top left corner of the goal, a strike so hard that few saw the ball until it hit the back of the net.

Sutton Valence soon extended the lead to two, with Nick Worsfold rounding the defence, to lay the ball off to an unmarked Rob Cockayne to slot past the keeper.

The second half started well, with a second goal for Cockayne, assisted by Andrew Lee. The ball was passed into Cockayne in the D for a reverse stick shot across the goal and into the opposite bottom corner of the goal.

Alex Standford claimed the fourth goal, with a similar move between Lee and Cockayne, with Stanford lurking at the back post to knock the ball in.

Cockayne soon scored his hat trick following a lovely, weighted pass from Alex Stanford, which allowed him to turn the defender at the halfway line and run with the ball unchallenged for a one-on-one with the goalie, which was simply slotted in.

With a change in personnel, short corner striking duties fell to Bob Bartlett, who extended the lead to six with a superb strike, rifling into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

Sutton Valence’s rolling defence of Bob Sagrott, Tom Ireland, Andrew McVarish, mark Whitmill and Mike Nettle, yet again seemed impenetrable, backed up by some good saves from David Turner in goal. Alas, Sevenoaks managed to pull a consolation goal back at this point, with a nice reverse stick flick past the keeper, in a run against play.

Cockayne scored his fourth soon after with another reverse stick shot past the keeper.

He soon scored his fifth of the match in the final minutes of the goal. Bob Bartlett zigzagged his way past the defenders, to do a cheeky lift of the ball over a defender’s stick, for Cockayne to half-volley in with a first-time swing.

In fairness to Sevenoaks, the 8-1 score line did not reflect their performance, with the game competitive throughout. Well done to all of the Sutton Valence players, with each and every member of the team putting in a damn good shift.

Team sheet:
David Turner (G)
Nick Worsfold
Michael Rolph
Bob Bartlett
Alex Stanford
Mark Whitmill
Bob Sagrott
Julian Mills
Mike Nettle
Rob Cockayne
Andy McVarish
Tom Ireland
Darren Thompson
Andrew Lee

Goals:
Nick Worsfold
Alex Stanford
Bob Bartlett
Rob Cockayne (5)