All Change In Premier As M1 Beat Wimbledon 1-0
By Colin Pike
Surbiton beat Wimbledon 1-0 in the Men's Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday evening, but dropped from second to third as Old Georgians leap-frogged Hampstead & Westminster on goal difference to go top following their 8-0 home win over Reading.
Surbiton's victory now leaves four teams on twelve points with Wimbledon dropping from fourth to sixth after they suffered their second defeat of the season, James Gall's 24th minute open play goal the difference between the sides.
Sam Ward and James Carson both scored hat-tricks with Ed Carson and Alan Forsyth also scoring against the Berkshire club to give Old Georgians a goal difference of plus 13 compared with Hampstead's plus nine.
Hampstead won 2-1 against Southgate, thanks to Matt Guise-Brown and James Oates, Kwan Browne scoring from the penalty spot for Southgate for the second week running.
Holcombe, without the injured Nick Bandurak, needed Sam Taylor to score the only goal at home to Oxted to stay on a plus 8 goal difference with Surbiton, but trail on goals scored.
Beeston moved up to fifth, above Wimbledon courtesy of their 4-0 home victory over the University of Nottingham, Henry Croft scoring twice with Gareth Griffiths and Max Sowter also on target in the very local derby.
East Grinstead moved up from tenth to seventh with a 2-1 home win over Cardiff & Met. Simon Faulkner put the hosts 1-0 up before Scott Rawlings equalised for Cardiff. Hugh Pembroke's last minute penalty corner conversion was enough to break Welsh hearts.
Next weekend is a double header weekend, with Surbiton at home to Oxted on Saturday (21 Oct) (push back 2 pm) followed by a trip to Nottingham Hockey Centre to take on Beeston on Sunday (22 Oct), also push back 2 pm.
Surbiton Men's second team are fourth in the Conference East following their 2-2 home draw with London Wayfarers on Saturday. Toby Pratt put London Wayfarers ahead in the ninth minute before Tom Beaumont levelled in the 22nd minute from a penalty corner. Meric Martin restored Wayfarers lead in the 29th minute but Scott Jones' penalty corner conversion with four minutes left earned Surbiton a point.
Surbiton are one of four teams on seven points in a division where the top seven teams are separated by just three points. Spencer lead on nine points with Indian Gymkhana a point behind in second. Hampstead & Westminster moved up to third, ahead of Surbiton on goal difference after their 2-0 win at Ipswich on Sunday, and Guildford and London Wayfarers are fifth and sixth. Ipswich are seventh with six points.
Surbiton travel to Indian Gymkhana on Saturday (21 October) push back 6 pm. Indian Gymkhana are likely to include former Surbiton player, James Tindall in their line-up.