South West Peninsula League
St Dennis 0 St Austell 4
St Austell will be playing in the Western League premier division next season after two results went their way on the penultimate night of fixtures in the SWPL.
The Lillywhites clinched the premier west title and promotion as their comfortable win at neighbours St Dennis was followed by news that title rivals Liskeard had been surprisingly beaten 1-0 at mid-table Holsworthy.
It left St Austell four points clear with one set of fixtures to go – so they could no longer be caught.
They will go to Truro City Reserves on Saturday to complete a remarkable season and pick up the championship trophy from league secretary Phil Hiscox.
With plans in the pipeline for major redevelopment of their Poltair Park home, these are exciting times for Town, as they are affectionately known by their loyal supporters.
For a start their local derbies against St Blazey will be back on the fixture list, ensuring big attendances when they meet at Christmas and Easter.
The Western League is a step up in quality but the likes of Mousehole, Tavistock and Helston thrived in it after gaining promotion from the SWPL and are now Southern League teams while Saltash, Falmouth and Torpoint are established teams at that level now.
It could be argued that St Austell are as big a club as any of them.
The Lillywhites’ charge to the SWPL title has been astonishing given their mid-table eighth finish a year ago when they finished 35 points behind champions Blazey.
But the rebuilding at Poltair started last season under manager Mark Smith, who brought on a number of young players with the aid on the field of captain Neil Slateford, who was a massive influence.
There were times last season when Slateford carried the team – but he needed help.
The end of the season saw Smith step down because of increasing business commitments and the club turned to former coach Chris Knight, a safe pair of hands and a popular choice.
Summer recruitment proved crucial. The signing of prolific striker Adam Carter made everybody sit up and take notice and his 30 plus goals have played a major part in their success this season.
Club legend Ollie Brokenshire returned from Blazey, successfully converted from midfield to a central defensive role, and the arrival of goalkeeper Harry Ashton was also key.
Slateford was suddenly surrounded by quality and he also thrived, producing consistently good performances from midfield and driving team-mates on with his trademark polite encouragement.
It was fitting, therefore, that he set the Lillywhites on the path to victory at St Dennis on Wednesday with a brilliant free kick after only five minutes – only three days after completing the London Marathon.
The early breakthrough settled any nerves the team might have had and further goals followed from George Marris (40 minutes), impact sub Tom Guest (80) and another club legend Liam Eddy (87).
St Austell could even afford a penalty miss with Henry Wilson sending his injury time spot kick wide.
St Austell: A Collins, K Bishop, M Duff, J Shaw (H Wilson 46), R Hooper, T Whipp (H Hann 80), N Slateford (L Eddy 61), N Teagle (M Searle 46), G Marris, A Carter, J Miller.
KJM SPORTS 