LONDON COLNEY were crowned champions on Saturday after a straightforward 4-0 win over Stony Stratford Town that will see them play Premier Division football next season.

The Blueboys started brightly and Matt Newman was unlucky to see his low drive whistle narrowly past the post.

However, the breakthrough goal came after just 12 minutes through top-scorer Newman, who tucked the ball under the keeper after being sent clear by a defence-splitting pass from Dean Adams. It was his 42nd goal of the season.

The lead was doubled five minutes later, and this time it was Newman who was the provider. His deft through-ball picked out Jimmy Warner who showed a cool head to slip the ball into the bottom corner for his 19th of the campaign.

Both teams had chances in front of goal before the end of the first half, but as the interval arrived, it looked as though it would take something special for Stony to haul themselves back into the match, such was Colney’s superiority.

Newman continued to pose the biggest threat for Colney, but Stony weren’t going down without a fight and a snapshot from Rob Simpson cannoned back off the Blueboys crossbar and away to safety – a let-off for the hosts.

Just past the hour-mark the game was made safe when Newman headed home unmarked from Warner’s knock-back to score his 50th goal in all competitions this season.

Matt Sutton, who had come on as a substitute for Greg Shaw, brought a stunning save out of the Stony keeper with a ferocious effort, while Warner came close to adding number four.

It was only a matter of time before the fourth goal arrived, though, and it was scored late on by Andy Murphy, who skipped past a defender and then the keeper before sliding the ball into the empty net.

Newman was unlucky not to bag his hat-trick when Woodwards denied the Blueboys frontman, but in the end it mattered little as the result and performance were fitting of the champions.

After the match the celebrations began with the presentation of the Division One trophy to captain Danny McCafferty by the SSMFL president.

Meanwhile the club’s annual dinner takes place at Verulam Golf Club tomorrow (Friday) evening.