Five-star win secures title

Sutton Valence men’s 1sts earned a 5-2 victory at Old Williamsonian 3rds on Saturday as they ensured they would end the season as SE Division 3 Invicta champions.

Valence captain Alex Stamp got the first goal of the match but, despite keeper Stewart Young saving from a penalty flick, the home side did then level.

Soon after, Sutton Valence were reduced to 10 players for a spell.

But after the restart, the visitors came out positively as relentless pressure from Lewis Mitchell and Andy Turnill ensured goals started to come.

Stamp completed his hattrick while Turnill netted two second-half goals, too.

The 2nds were edged out in a seven-goal SE Division 6 Invicta game by Tunbridge Wells 5ths.

They started the game brightly but swiftly found themselves 3-0 down - all three goals coming from short-corner routines - with Sutton Valence also a player down at this point.

Despite the best efforts of Tunbridge Wells’ goalkeeper, Chris Stille finished from a tight angle and Ed HawesGatt pulled a second goal back, only for Wells to restore their two-goal cushion. Hawes-Gatt bagged Valence’s third, although Tunbridge Wells just about clung on. Sutton Valence 3rds edged to a 1-0 victory at home to Folkestone Optimist 7ths in SE Division 8 Invicta.

After a goalless first half, two vital saves by keeper David Turner kept Sutton Valence in the game.

Eventually, the deadlock was broken.

The hosts made a quick break from the halfway line, which saw Julian Mills cross across the D to Rod Harcourt. The ball was flicked up by Harcourt and padded down by the keeper into the attacking player, who utilised the advantage to fumble over the line.

Turner then made a matchwinning block for Valence as they secured their seventh successive win.