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Vernon storms in with a hat-trick as Millers rain down on plucky Woking

The 7-3 scoreline suggests an easy win for Sanderstead 1s, but they faced their toughest test yet in South League's Surrey Division 2 when Woking 3s visited on Saturday 14 November.  Winger Alex Vernon contributed a hat-trick as the Millers saw off a Woking comeback to maintain their six-point cushion at the top of the table.

The hosts were three goals up after 15 minutes and seemed to be unperturbed by the torrential rain, which continued until half-time.  Woking were not about to concede defeat, however, and took advantage when Sanderstead let their guard down and gifted them possession.  Two quick counter-attacks rounded off with clinical finishes left them just 3-2 down at the interval, all but cancelling out Vernon's superb back-post effort and a goal each from Denzil Dolley and Emit Raja.

Vernon scrambled home his second just after the re-start but again Woking responded, scoring another goal on the break after an aerial pass caused trouble for the home defence.

Looking to build on their 4-3 lead, Sanderstead found many attacks thwarted by confident and acrobatic Woking goalkeeping.  But eventually Dolley forced his way through, for a simple tap-in goal.  He then set up John Devaney with a pinpoint pass, allowing the right-winger to open his account for the season from just a yard out.  Vernon rounded off the scoring after holding off his marker and slotting home comfortably, with Dolley once again supplying the assist.

Commenting after the game, Millers captain Martyn Avery said, "The wet conditions made this a tricky fixture, and both sides were clearly affected by the rain.  In the end we triumphed thanks to our fitness and organisation, but this was a real wake-up call for the squad.  We won't be taking anything for granted when we travel to Surbiton on Saturday."

Elsewhere Sanderstead's other outfits enjoyed mixed fortunes.  The 2nd XI fought hard to keep hosts Purley Walcountians to just one goal by half-time but eventually lost 4-2, with Paul Whitehead and Dav Mahi keeping the scoreline respectable.  The 3s took a point from their encounter against a strong Epsom side, the game ending 3-3.  The best result of the weekend was a win for the 4th team, who kept a clean sheet in seeing off Horley 2-0, to make it three wins from their last four outings.