Press Releases

Millers back to winning ways

Sanderstead 1s returned to winning ways in South League’s Surrey Division 2 on Saturday, triumphing 2-1 against their hosts Richmond 3s. Taking a 2-0 lead into the closing stages, the Millers resisted a late comeback from Richmond, to put their defeat against Walton & Weybridge behind them and consolidate their position at the top of the table.

Richmond fielded a stronger side than went down 3-0 against Sanderstead when the two met before Christmas, and they played an aggressive game to try to unsettle the league leaders.  Chances fell to both outfits before half-time, but a combination of poor finishing and gutsy last-ditch defending kept the match goalless.  Sanderstead should have capitalised on a yellow card for Richmond, but they failed to score against the opposing ten men.  Dom Knolles had arguably the best opportunity of the period, narrowly missing out on a back-post goal off Denzil Dolley’s cross.  Dolley himself went close, twice hitting the goal frame with lifted efforts as the Richmond ‘keeper rushed out to shut down the shooting angle.

After the break the same two forwards combined once again for Sanderstead, culminating when Knolles took a pass from his team-mate and drew a foul on the Richmond goal-line.  Dolley neatly slotted home the penalty flick to establish a lead.

The Millers looked set for more goals, and Mark Bryan duly obliged bagging his fourth of the season from a short corner.  Minutes later he almost turned provider as he swept a pass to Dolley, but the resulting deflecting glanced over the bar from close range.

Richmond’s quasi-revival made for an interesting end to the encounter, converting their first short corner of the game to make it 2-1 and pushing forward from midfield in search of a result.  But the Millers worked hard to shut them out and take the points.

Sanderstead 3rd XI contested an intense game against Merton, losing out 8-6 in the highest-scoring game of the campaign so far.

The 4s, meanwhile, nullified the Leatherhead attack to register a 2-0 home win.  Both goals came from leading scorer Neil Priest, his first a shot through a crowded circle, and the second set up following a determined break by Tom Henderson.

The 2nd XI fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch.