M1 Visit Oxted On Saturday Night
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men visit Oxted on Saturday night for their next Men's Hockey League Premier Division fixture (push back 6.30 pm).
However, due to COVID-19 regulations, visiting supporters cannot attend this match.
Surbiton and Oxted have not met in the national league, but have met twice in the Men's Cup.
In September 2007, Surbiton needed Golden Goal Extra Time and penalties before getting past Oxted in Round 2. James Mulcair put Surbiton ahead in the fourth minute, only for Oxted to equalise before half time.
With the score at 1-1 at the end of normal time, Surbiton had the chance to win in extra time from a penalty stroke, but Karl Stagno blazed wide of the target.
Stagno made amends in the decisive penalty barrage, scoring the deciding penalty stroke after Mulcair and Tim Pinnock had also scored to send Surbiton through 3-1 on strokes after a 1-1 draw after extra time.
In 2013, the teams met again, this time at Sugden Road in the semi-finals. And after Joffy Wilkes-Green equalised for Oxted after Ben Tibble's opener, Surbiton cruised to a 6-1 win with Chris Grassick scoring a hat-trick with James Tindall and Alexander Penney also scoring for Surbiton. They went on to beat Hampstead 3-1 in the final at Wakefield.
Surbiton go to Oxted after a bye week, while the hosts will be recovering after losing 10-6 at Old Georgians having led 6-4 in the second half.
Oxted were promoted to the Premier for the first time last season after winning the Division One South and have struggled on their debut, although they lost narrowly, 2-1 at East Grinstead and 3-1 at home to Holcombe. Oxted got off the mark with a 2-0 home win over the University of Exeter and will have confidence after competing with Old Georgians last week.
Surbiton saw their lead reduced to two points last weekend thanks to Old Georgians' win with Hampstead & Westminster also keeping up the pressure with their 5-1 home win over East Grinstead.
Old Georgians' match at Brooklands Manchester University has been postponed this weekend.
Wimbledon are at home to the University of Durham; Holcombe host Hampstead & Westminster and East Grinstead welcome Beeston to West Sussex in Saturday's other games.