WINCHESTER City’s 3-0 win over Totton & Eling made it 11 games unbeaten for Paul Masters’ men in the Sydenhams Premier Division – ten of them victories.

That is title-winning form in anyone’s book but, alas for the Citizens, it came too late to stop Petersfield Town adding the top-flight crown to the Division One trophy they won last year.

Celebrations were in full swing at Love Lane on Saturday as a 58thminute Lewis Hyde goal edged the Rams across the finish line with a 1-0 win over Lymington Town, pushing them seven points clear of City with two games left to play.

Sydenhams League vice-chairman Nick Spencer was on hand to present the trophy to Petersfield’s title-winning skipper Alex Ward.

“It’s our own fault, we lost silly matches over the course of the year,” reflected Winchester’s director of football Dave Malone.

“But congratulations to Petersfield, you can’t knock their record. To only lose two games over the course of the season is an amazing achievement and they deserve to be champions.

“Our victory assures our place as runners- up, which is some consolation after our recent run of form.

“Now we must wait and see how the FA restructure the leagues for next season.

“I don’t anticipate them promoting two clubs from the Wessex League, but we’ve passed Level D ground grading (Southern Premier level) and you never know.

“We’re staying philosophical about it.

“We know we can’t influence anything and the FA will only do what they want to do.”

Petersfield now await news of where they will be playing Step 4 football next season – a decision that is expected by mid-May.