Recovery win earns three-point gap at top

Sutton Valence 1sts moved three points clear in Kent Open Premier A after a 4-1 win over K Sports on Saturday. Neil Smith gave Kobs a 10th-minute lead but Marcus Bawden and birthday boy Fred McVarish started to control midfield, allowing Andy Turnill to charge at the opposition D. The good work resulted in a penalty corner, flicked home by Clayton Pohiho, and McVarish made it 2-1 on the rebound. A counter-attack early in the second half led to an own goal off Johnny Walker’s strike and the fourth was a super effort from the top of the D by Kevin Kirkham. Alex Hodges was named man-ofthe-match. Sutton Valence 2nds lost top spot to Gore Court after a 3-2 defeat by their Kent Open Premier C promotion rivals. Chris Sheldon’s clinical finish from a Tom Willson pass gave Valence the lead but Court levelled from a short corner and went 2-1 up. Valence started to move the ball around well and equalised with Sheldon’s second but Court snatched victory. Man-of-the-match Seb O’Leary was exceptional. Valence 3rds beat Burnt Ash 4-1 in a friendly. They started strongly and led at half-time through Stuart Edmed. Rob Cockayne scored twice after the break and Darren Thompson added the fourth. Sutton Valence vets beat Purley 5-3 in the Southern Counties Conference. Valence trailed after four minutes but led 3-2 at half-time thanks to Bob Bartlett’s double, including a fine individual effort, and Rupert Humphrey. Purley levelled after the break but Valence retaliated with Humphrey’s shot deflected in by Andy McVarish and it was Humphrey’s fine strike that clinched the points. Bartlett was named man-of-thematch.