M1 Home To Oxted On Saturday Afternoon
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men are at home to Oxted in the Men's Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon. Push back at Sugden Road is 2 pm.
Those supporters unable to attend Sugden Road can watch the match via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
This weekend is designated a double header weekend for both Premier Divisions, Surbiton following up their home game versus Oxted with a trip to Nottingham Hockey Centre to take on Beeston on Sunday, also 2 pm push back.
Oxted welcome Reading to Caterham School on Sunday afternoon.
Oxted were promoted to the Premier Division after winning Division One South in the 2019-20 season, so top flight meetings between the Surrey clubs have been limited. The first-ever meeting at Oxted School was eventful for Oxted as Tim Guise-Brown's goal earned them a 1-0 victory in what turned out to be the last match for both teams in the truncated 2020-21 season due to Covid-19.
Surbiton won 5-2 at Oxted School in September 2021, Oxted just missing out on a Top Six place at the midway point of the 2021-22 season, preventing a second meeting during the campaign.
Oxted will be making only their second Premier Division trip to Sugden Road, having lost 5-1 in October 2022 after scoring the first goal of the game.
Oxted started the season with a 3-2 win at East Grinstead, but are still looking for a follow-up win, having drawn 4-4 at Cardiff & Met, and lost 4-0 at home to Wimbledon; 4-2 at home to Hampstead & Westminster and 1-0 at Holcombe.
Bradley Sherwood and Peter Jarvis have scored twice for Oxted this season with the other five goals shared between Owen Williamson, Isaac Dale, Nick Giles, Charlie Axford and Chris Porter.
Surbiton are one of four teams locked on 12 points at the top of the Premier Division. Old Georgians lead on goal difference over Hampstead & Westminster with both Surbiton and Holcombe having a one worse goal difference than Hampstead, but Surbiton in third place ahead of Holcombe on goals scored. The top three teams have all scored 18 goals.
Elsewhere on Saturday, leaders Old Georgians are at home to Beeston and second-placed Hampstead are at Wimbledon.
Fourth-placed Holcombe take on East Grinstead immediately after Surbiton Women's match at Saint Hill. Southgate visit Reading and Cardiff & Met are away to the University of Nottingham.