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Derby victory makes Millers merry at christmas break

Dom Knolles led the charge for Sanderstead 1st XI, scoring a brace as his team breezed past Purley Walcountians 2s in South League Surrey Division 2 on Saturday 12 December.  Denzil Dolley and Martyn Avery also made the scoresheet in the 4-0 away win, which keeps the Millers 10 points clear at the top of the table as the league takes a break until the new year.

In a one-sided first half, Sanderstead were soon two goals ahead.  Knolles reacted quickest to a breakdown in front of goal to slip the ball past the Purley ‘keeper.  Minutes later Dolley slotted home to double the lead, and the Gryphon man went on to dominate the right flank.

He turned provider for Knolles’s second, firing in a cross which just evaded winger Richard Bruce.  But striker Knolles made sure from close range, giving the Millers a wholly deserved 3-0 lead at the interval.

While the hosts offered more by way of a challenge in the second half, drawing a couple of decent saves from Sanderstead’s number-one Dan Pacitti, the outcome was never in doubt.  With a tight defence, effectively marshalled by Mark Bryan, Sanderstead closed out their opponents to record their fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

With only ten men on the pitch for the final minutes, Sanderstead still managed to nick another goal.  Tidy build-up play from Alex Vernon and an accurate assist from Chris O’Hagan left Avery with the simple job of a tap-in from five yards.  The skipper had earned this reward, having worked tirelessly in defence and attack throughout the encounter.

“Closing the first half of the season with a 100 per cent record gives us every chance of fulfilling our ambition of promotion,” said the captain after the game.  “We’ll be fighting just as hard in the new year to make sure we achieve our objective and to prepare ourselves for a higher level of hockey.”