Ladies 1s 2 - 1 East Grinstead 1s (H)
By Surbiton HC / Tony Jones
Surbiton’s L1s won their 18th league match of the 2022/23 league season on Saturday afternoon, beating fellow Finals Weekend hopefuls East Grinstead 1s in the last game of Phase 3 at Sugden Road.
It was a fast and furious start to the game with end-to-end action and chances in both circles. EG took the lead in the seventh minute with a Liv Breed field goal, but Surbiton equalised from a penalty corner routine three minutes later, Leah Wilkinson deflecting home a delivery from Giselle Ansley.
The fast flowing hockey continued as the first half played out and the ball flew into the EG goal from another Ansley drag flick in the 25th minute, with Surbiton disappointed to see the goal disallowed.
Just four minutes later the EG defence could do nothing about Sophie Hamilton’s finish as she smashed the ball into the roof of the net following a smart one-two along the baseline with Alice Sharp.
The pace of the game continued into the second half, with Surbiton dominating possession and creating a number of chances. EG had a handful of opportunities on the break, but there were no further goals for either side and the game finished 2-1.
L1 captain Steph Elliott said after the game, “Playing a competitive game against EG has really added to the momentum we needed going into the Finals Weekend. I was really pleased with the girls’ performance - we showed composure, discipline and still learnt some important lessons. We’re really looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd at Sugden Road next weekend and celebrating the success of the club and the legacy we have created.”
Hamilton’s goal took her to 16 for the season, ensuring that she tops the league’s goalscoring charts just ahead of EG’s Tess Howard and Sophie Bray. At the other end of the pitch, L1 goalkeeper Sabbie Heesh wins the Golden Gloves award after marshalling her defence to nine clean sheets across the league season.