Four-goal Turnill quick to make his mark

Andy Turnill scored four times on his first appearance of the season as Sutton Valence went top of Kent Area Division 2. Valence made it three wins out of three with an 11-1 victory at BBHC and move above Old Williamsonians in the table. The hosts forced two saves from Stewart Young and a block on the line by Chris

Back before Valence took control.

Speed going forwards and slick, pinpoint passing culminated in two goals from short corners by Jack Davies and Kevin Kirkham.

Further first-half efforts from Kirkham, Rob Bray and manof-the-match Turnill (2) made it 6-0 at half-time.

Sutton Valence maintained the tempo and stretched their lead through Lewis Mitchell, Back and Brett Angel plus two more goals from Turnill. BBHC rallied at the end, scoring a consolation goal from a rebound.

Sutton Valence 2nds lost a two-goal lead against Canterbury Griffins in Kent Open Premier B.

Valence struck twice from short corners in the first half, Chris Sheldon scoring from the top of the D and Richard Turnill lifting a shot past the keeper following a deflection. They kept moving the ball around and felt they had the game under control at halftime having produced their best hockey of the season.

But they may have peaked too soon as Canterbury found their feet in the second half. A reverse hit trickled in for the Griffins’ first, followed by a fine equaliser and a simple bit of hockey for their winner. Alex Hodges was Valence’s man-of-the-match.

Sutton Valence 3rds continued their winning run in Kent Open Division 3 with a 6-0 victory over Maidstone 5ths. Valence absorbed early pressure and countered well with crisp short passing to capitalise on gaps left. Man-of-the-match Tom Cavell made the breakthrough with a finish from Rob Cockayne’s pass and the floodgates opened with Cockayne scoring a hattrick and Darren Thompson also on target.

Sutton Valence spent much of the second half defending, including an excellent goalline clearance by Phil Morris and a number of solid saves from Finlay Wishart.

But they still created chances of their own, completing their tally through James Wilmott. The vets could only raise 10 players for their Southern Counties Conference game against Camberley Owls and lost 8-2.

An early injury to Stuart Bates, from a fall, made the task harder and it soon became clear the Camberley team were well-organised and had a quick young forward. Valence were six down at half-time, despite the efforts of midfielders Nigel Barsdley, John Dinnis, George Dinnis and Rupert Humphrey. Bardsley and Humphrey replied in the second half but Camberley added two more goals in the last 10 minutes.