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Sanderstead ready for division 1 after taking title

Sanderstead 1st XI established an unassailable lead at the head of Surrey Division 2 on Saturday, and made club history by securing back-to-back league titles.  They cruised past Surbiton 4a in a one-sided encounter to be crowned champions with another three games still on their fixtures card.

Promotion for the Millers was already guaranteed following the previous weekend's outing, and first-half strikes from Martyn Avery and Mark Bryan put the hosts at ease as they chased the three points which would give them the league.

Surbiton made the Millers work hard for their goals, but could not prevent the inevitable onslaught from the division's top-scoring team.  After the break, Avery added a second to take him to 11 goals for the season, John Devaney ran into the circle unopposed to score past a flat-footed 'keeper, and Denzil Dolley hit an astonishing reverse shot from a tight angle to seal the win.

The defence, meanwhile, was firmly in control, dealing comfortably with Surbiton's aerial attacks, and leaving goalies Dan Pacitti and Cameron Skinner to share uneventful halves between the Sanderstead posts.

Millers' captain Avery said after the game, "Our hard work and commitment has brought us this trophy, and it is a great honour to lead the side to successive titles.  But it is the coaching team, led by Mark Hunnisett and Denzil Dolley, who have given us the platform to achieve this fantastic result, and their efforts are recognised by everyone at the club.

"We are already looking forward to representing Sanderstead in Surrey Division 1 next season.  It will be the first time in eight years that the club has played at that level, and everyone in the squad is ready to give a great account of themselves."

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Sanderstead 2nd XI lost their crucial meeting with Cheam.  Having taken the lead, they succumbed to the hosts' clinical finishing in a dazzling spell which left Sanderstead trailing 3-1.  Although they pulled a goal back, Sanderstead could not salvage a result from the game, and they now languish some way from the promotion-chasing pack.

The 4s lost by the same margin away at Surbiton, and were unable to assert their superior league position against their plucky hosts.  But the 3rd team had a better day, taking a point from their 2-2 draw against Horley.