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Bruce Hat-trick brings down Hawks

Sanderstead 1st XI made it two wins from two on Saturday 10 October, seeing off hosts Walton & Weybridge Hawks to take top spot in South League Surrey Division 2.  Despite falling a goal behind early in the first half, the Old Saw Mill outfit came back to record a convincing 4-1 victory.  Winger Richard Bruce notched up a hat-trick, while striking partner Mark Hunnisett added the fourth.

After an evenly balanced opening period, the Hawks’s centre forward gave his side the lead, finding himself unmarked at a goalmouth scramble and slipping the ball into the net.  The Millers were soon back on level terms, however, when Bruce nipped in front of his defender to edge in Denzil Dolley’s cross from the right flank.  He doubled his tally minutes later, creating space to shoot low into the corner from 12 yards out.

Bruce would have made his hat-trick before the interval but for the width of the post, when he shot just wide of the mark.  But he was able to make amends soon after the break, thanks to some fine play from team-mate James Godden.  The full-back pushed forward down the right and picked out Bruce, who deflected the ball cheekily through his legs past the befuddled Walton goal-line defence.

With a 3-1 advantage, Sanderstead looked comfortably the better side.  The Hawks could not convert their midfield strength into attacking threat, squandering a number of short corners and creating little in the way of chances in open play.  Their hopes of salvaging anything from the fixture were ended when Hunnisett netted from close range.  Bruce again played a part, finding the centre forward with a pass into the circle from the left wing – Hunnisett collected a rebound off his first shot and slipped the ball home at the second time of asking.

The visitors went close on several occasions before the final whistle, notably when Emit Raja saw his two set-piece drag flicks skim over the bar, much to the relief of Hawks’s goalie.

Captain Martyn Avery said, “This is the ideal start to the season for us – we’re scoring goals and showing resilience in defence.  We haven’t reached our full potential yet, so we will continue to train hard, but things look promising at this early stage.”