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Devaney double keeps Millers on track for promotion

Sanderstead 1st XI overcame a challenging Barnes side and atrocious weather conditions on Saturday 16th January to register their 12th consecutive victory in South League’s Surrey Division 2.  After Mark Bryan opened the scoring, John Devaney netted either side of half-time to lead the Millers to a 3-1 win over their hosts.

The month-long break from hockey imposed by Christmas and the wintry weather did not dampen Sanderstead’s ambitions for promotion, and they had the points in the bag before slackening off and letting Barnes notch up a consolation goal.

Sanderstead had a flurry of near-misses in the Barnes’ circle, with Martyn Avery involved in two of them.  After a shot of his was blocked, a straightforward tap-in presented itself to Dom Knolles, who squandered the opportunity.  Soon after, he evaded his marker and fired a tidy reverse effort goalwards, only for it to be stopped on the line.

After 20 minutes Bryan broke the deadlock, sweeping home at a short corner to make it 1-0.  Devaney came off the bench shortly after to double the lead, seizing the chance to convert from close range when the opposition goalkeeper failed to clear his lines.

By contrast with his opposite number, Millers ‘keeper Dan Pacitti showed great resilience and deserved praise for a fine double-save to keep Barnes off the scoresheet in the first half.

Midway through the second half Mark Hunnisett fed a sweet pass to the free-roaming Richard Bruce, who travelled 40 yards unopposed before finding Devaney in space on the edge of the ‘D’.  The winger unleashed an aerial shot to deceive the goalie, who had committed himself to ground, and establish a three-goal cushion for the Millers.

A powerful strike at a short corner got the better of the Sanderstead defensive set-piece team, but it came too late to spark a Barnes comeback.

“Before the game I was worried that we had had no time to prepare ourselves for the league after a long break, so it is a relief to have taken three points,” said captain Avery.  “All the same, I know we should be fitter, sharper and more clinical than demonstrated in this match.  Promotion is within our grasp, but we must be preparing for hockey at a higher level, which means dominating our oppositions from start to finish.”

The victory means the Millers remain 10 points clear at the top of the league.

Poor weather caused a number of Saturday’s fixtures to be postponed, including those of Sanderstead’s three other teams.  These matches will be rescheduled for a later date.