'CONFERENCE HERE WE COME'.

Kingstonian lifted the Ryman Premiership trophy on Thursday night after clinching the championship with a 1-0 win at bottom club Oxford City.

Nerves were jangling as the sides went in at half time goal less - and neither team looking like scoring.

And while Ks turned it on in the second half the vital goal just wouldn't come.

Shots went over the bar, Ks missed a penalty...and closest rivals Boreham Wood seemed to be doing the business at Chesham.

But it all came right in the end - a Geoff Pitcher goal on 76 minutes put them ahead. And the small band of travelling fans were delirious as news filtered through that Boreham Wood had dropped two all-important points.

Captain Terry Evans punched the air as he lifted the shield, and immediately paid tribute to Jack Goodchild, president of the supporters club and long time fan, who died on Boxing Day at the age of 82.

Chants of Jack Army dominated celebrations. And on Monday - after the 1-1 draw away to Purfleet - the victorious Ks visited Kingston's May Merrie, where they signed autographs for fans.

To the bookmakers Ks taking the title was no surprise - William Hill made them favourites as soon as Chapple, and his right-hand man Colin Lippiatt joined in close season.

Even then those odds seemed ridiculous as Ks produced three goalless draws in four games making them look far from the trailblazers they were hyped to be.

By Christmas they were 12 points behind the leaders, had crashed out of the FA Trophy in the first round, and were dumped from the Guardian Insurance Cup.

Not really the stuff of champions, people thought, as Dagenham and Redbridge led the way.

But with the new year came a rich seam of form which saw them go unbeaten in the league for 13 games until an uncharacteristically poor showing against Yeading at home saw them go down by a single goal.

But by then it was April, and Chapple's men had glory in their sights.

They had already avenged a 5-2 defeat by Boreham Wood in a six pointer against the title challengers.

And, apart from a battling 3-3 draw with Sutton United, they were not to drop another point before clinching the championship. But the season is not over yet. Boss Geoff Chapple is demanding one last effort as he bids to win the Surrey Senior Cup, and achieve the double in his first season in charge.

The first clash with his old club Woking ended 1-1 after extra time. The replay is tonight, Thursday, at Sutton United's ground, at 7.30pm. "We'll be up for it," he said. "It would round off a tremendous season."

And he wants a large turnout for the last game of the year. While Ks already have a trophy Woking know it's their last chance of picking up any silverware this season.

l See tomorrow's Surrey Comet for your commemorative poster of Ks' league championship.

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