L2 Suffer Shock Defeat At University of Birmingham
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Ladies' second team suffered a shock defeat at the University of Birmingham on Sunday afternoon, going down 1-0.
Other results in the Investec Women's Hockey League Conference West went their way meaning that they maintained their four point lead but now hold the advantage over five teams all on eight points.
Birmingham had drawn two and lost two of their four league matches going into Sunday's match but snatched all three points thanks to Josephine Nash's penalty corner conversion at the end of the first half.
Surbiton had won all four of their previous league games but couldn't break through a dogged home defence and were also thwarted by Birmingham goalkeeper, Sophie Holliday.
Surbiton pulled goalkeeper Tess Shahbo for the final five minutes, electing to play with eleven attacking players, but in spite of dominating possession in an attempt to equalise, Birmingham held out.
There was drama at the end of the game as Surbiton forced a last second penalty corner to try and score a late equaliser. One of Birmingham's players broke from the line to reduce the number of defenders in the goal, but the when the subsequent penalty corner was re-awarded, Birmingham had four defenders.
Birmingham cleared the ball out of the circle, thinking that they had won before the umpires consulted and decided that the corner should be retaken with three defenders in the goal.
Birmingham successfully cleared the ball a second time and were finally able to celebrate their first league win of the season.
Surbiton also had to cope without captain, Hannah Denison after she suffered a facial injury late in the match.
After a week's break due to the Olympic Qualifiers, Surbiton play Team Bath Buccaneers, currently seventh, at Sugden Road on 9 November (push back 2 pm).