Town rounded off a superb championship-winning season by thrashing Ilford on Monday night (April 28).

But the club will have to do it all again next year, as their Goldsdown Road ground needs to be brought up to Ryman League standard.

A Matt Negus goal was enough to secure the title on Saturday, in the match at home to Burnham, but the champagne football was saved for rivals Ilford, as Town really turned on the style.

Goals from Peter Ulatowski (3), Daniel Clarke, Martin St Hilaire, Bradley Brotherton and Daniel Alleyne put the seal on a magnificent team performance under stand-in captain Clarke, who was celebrating his 100th appearance for the club.

Town manager Jim Chandler said: "We did it in style. It was an all-round team performance.

"It just shows the strength of our squad, because we had six players on the sidelines who would have played if they had not been injured.

"Ilford were fighting for second place and, although we didn't start very well, we scored some super goals."

Chandler said he was thrilled with the team's successes this season, which also included a win in the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy and a Middlesex Cup final appearance. But he refused to take all the credit.

He added: "It has been a lot of hard work for everybody. We have two teams at this club, one on the pitch and one off it, so this success is for everyone at the club.

"We are just starting to show people that we are going places.

"We've got it all to do again next year and it will be difficult, so we will look at bringing in a few more players to help us win it again next year."

April 30, 2003 20:00