Surrey Old Boys mounted a decent challenge to Sanderstead’s supremacy in South League Surrey Division Two on Saturday but, despite maintaining parity until half-time, they found themselves 3-1 down by the final whistle.

Two goals in the second period for a lively Richard Bruce added to Denzil Dolley’s opener, to seal the win for the hosts.

While the game was still goalless, the Old Saw Mill outfit cursed their luck at missing out on a number of simple back-post opportunities, with Dolley providing the crosses but neither Bruce nor fellow winger John Devaney able to convert.

In a reversal of roles, it was Bruce who delivered a cross from out wide to find Dolley who made it 1-0, bundling the ball into the goal after the Surrey keeper fumbled a clearance.

Surrey too were creating chances, and kept the Millers’ defence busy on quick counter-attacks. Their equaliser came from a short corner strike which bounced off Dan Pacitti’s pads towards Mark Bryan, the latter just failing to stop the ball crossing the line.

The second half began with the Millers in the ascendancy, and they executed the move of the match to make it 2-1.

Dolley ran deep into the Surrey half and picked out the supporting Devaney whose neat pass gifted a goal to Bruce at the far post.

Dolley was again involved as Bruce made his pair, cutting through the heart of the Old Boys’ defence before slipping the ball to the on-fire winger. Having fallen two behind, Surrey battled to the end, drawing a sequence of good saves from Pacitti, who made his presence felt in the circle to keep a second-half clean sheet.

Time ticked away as Surrey ran out of ideas, unable to capitalise when Sanderstead went down to ten men due to yellow cards.

Sanderstead captain Martyn Avery said: “We’ve been playing better every week since Christmas, and I feel we will be more than ready to take on Addiscombe on Saturday.”

A win at the weekend would extend the Millers’ lead at the top of the table to 13 points with only six further matches to play.

Elsewhere last Saturday, Neil Priest’s four goals helped Sanderstead’s 4th XI to victory, outscoring bottom side Croydon 5-1 on an unfamiliar grass pitch.

The terrain did nothing to stop the Millers dominating the game with a solid performance from the whole team, including key contributions from younger players who had never before played on grass.

The Third,, however, were not so fortunate, as they narrowly missed out on the points against a strong Oxted XI.

3-1 down at the interval, the Millers controlled the second half and fought back to 3-3 with goals from Dan Hiscock, Mark Mear and Rob Lunt.

Their sustained pressure did not yield them a winner though, and they conceded late on to make the final score 4-3.

New players are always welcome at Sanderstead hockey club. Anyone interested in joining the club should visit www.sandersteadhockey.com or contact Martyn Avery on 07968 973305 for more information.

The next First fixture is against Addiscombe on Saturday, February 13. Push back will be at 2pm at Trinity School.