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M1 Held 2-2 At Hampstead After Home Comeback

 

12th November 2022

By Colin Pike

Surbiton Men were held to a 2-2 draw by Hampstead & Westminster at Paddington Recreation Ground on Saturday night after Hampstead fought back from 2-0 down to earn a point.

Old Georgians took over the leadership of the Men's Hockey League Premier Division with a 4-2 home win over Wimbledon on Saturday night in both teams' game in hand and an 8-2 home win over the University of Exeter on Sunday. After 8 games, Old Georgians lead Surbiton by two points with Wimbledon, who also beat Oxted 6-1 at home on Sunday, closing to a point behind Surbiton in third. 

Both Hampstead and Surbiton had attacking intent, but defences were on top in the first half with James Mazerelo saving well in the Surbiton goal and Toby Reynolds-Cotterill performing likewise in the Hampstead goal.

Both Tom Sorsby and Ben Boon made attacking runs to no avail. There were a couple of unusual stoppages in play when Jacob Draper collided with an umpire before being able to resume and a football was kicked over an adjacent fence and onto the hockey pitch.

Surbiton's Boon's soccer skills weren't quite skilful enough to return the ball over the fence with Reynolds-Cotterill coming to the rescue.

Surbiton took the lead in the 33rd minute with a stunning reaction goal from David Goodfield, Reynolds-Cotterill beaten by Goodfield's shot into the roof of the net.

Hampstead had two penalty corner opportunities at the end of the first half, but failed to convert either, leaving Surbiton with a 1-0 half time lead.

Amazingly, the game had to be stopped a second time in the 39th minute for another football trespass infringement before a strong contender for Goal of the Season gave Surbiton a 2-0 advantage in the 49th minute. Goodfield took a free hit, kept possession evading Hampstead tackles, carried the ball into the circle and unleashed a stunning shot into the roof of the net past Reynolds-Cotterill to seemingly put Surbiton in control.

But Hampstead have been known for their comebacks in the past and they weren't to be denied what could prove to be a vital point. First Marc Edwards scored in the 60th minute from open play to give Hampstead hope, and then with the momentum fully with the home team, Hywel Jones scored the equaliser three minutes later as Surbiton wondered how they had lost a two goal advantage so quickly and Hampstead wondered if they could repeat their heroics of 2018 when they came from 4-2 down to win 5-4.

Honours were to be even at the end of the game even though Goodfield threatened once more at the end, but Surbiton had to settle for a point and their second 2-2 draw away from home this season after an opening draw at Holcombe.

In Saturday's other match, Beeston won 2-0 at very near neighbours the University of Nottingham.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Holcombe beat Brooklands Manchester University 3-1 at home to go fourth above Hampstead & Westminster and Reading are now sixth following their 1-0 home win over East Grinstead.

Surbiton travel to Wimbledon next Saturday for their final away game of 2022, push back 6 pm at Raynes Park High School.