M1 Beat Hampstead & W 5-2 In Opening League Match
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men kept up their historical record of success against Hampstead & Westminster at Sugden Road, running out 5-2 winners in their opening Men's Hockey League Premier Division match on Saturday evening.
Hampstead had only ever won once away to Surbiton since the teams first met at the end of the last century, but although the scoreline would suggest otherwise, Hampstead were still on level terms until near the end of the third quarter.
Tim Nurse opened the scoring in the 13th minute from a penalty corner, only for Matt Guise-Brown to level via the same method four minutes later.
New signing Struan Walker then made an immediate impact, restoring Surbiton's lead in the 38th minute from open play.
Hampstead's new signing, Sam Apoola, brought the Central London club level from a 45th minute penalty corner and it seemed that the match would be yet another competitive London derby to the wire.
However, Walker struck again from a 52nd minute penalty corner to put Surbiton ahead a third time and it was only in the last ten minutes that Surbiton were able to pull away.
Surbiton's penalty corner routine worked wonders twice, Luke Taylor extending the hosts' lead to 4-2 with just eight minutes remaining and Gareth Furlong putting the icing on the cake four minutes from time.
If you were not able to attend, you can watch the match via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
Surbiton face an even more local derby next Saturday when they make the short trip to St. George's College to face reigning champions Old Georgians, who have added former Surbiton player Alan Forsyth to their squad and have Brett Garrard on their coaching staff.
Southgate came out on top in the battle of the newly promoted teams as they came away from Cardiff & Met with all three points thanks to a 4-1 win. Archie Foster gave Southgate the lead in the sixth minute, but Alf Dinnie equalised in the 21st minute. New signing Will Calnan restored Southgate's lead in the 41st minute, closely followed by Kwan Browne's penalty stroke two minutes later. Daniel West sealed the win in the 63rd minute.
Oxted won bragging rights in the Surrey/ West Sussex local derby, winning 3-2 at East Grinstead. Owen Williamson's tenth minute penalty stroke and Isaac Dale's 13th minute open play goal put Oxted 2-0 ahead before Isaac Farrant converted a penalty corner in the second quarter. Nick Giles restored Oxted's two goal advantage in the 53rd minute before Archie Phillips gave Oxted some late nerves by scoring an open play goal.
Holcombe raced to a 4-0 home win over Reading, Nick Bandurak scoring in the fifth minute, with Phil Roper adding goals in the 42nd and 58th minutes, either side of Tim Guise-Brown's penalty corner conversion in the 50th minute.
Old Georgians won 4-1 at the University of Nottingham with Sam Ward having to settle for a brace after netting six of the best in the corresponding fixture last season. After Ward's fifth minute opener, Louis Tipper briefly brought the students level, but Tom Carson put Old Georgians back in front in the 14th minute. Ward scored his second from a 47th minute penalty corner and Carson had the last word with five minutes remaining.
Wimbledon joined Surbiton in securing a 5-2 victory, Wimbledon beating Beeston in part two of their double header. Wimbledon led 3-0 at half time, Ed Horler opening the scoring in the 21st minute, with Rhys Bradshaw doubling the hosts' lead ten minutes later and Charlie Stubbings netting on the stroke of half time. Rory Patterson gave Wimbledon a 4-0 advantage four minutes after the interval. In the fourth quarter there was an action packed three minute spell when the players couldn't stop scoring: Henry Croft scoring in the 58th and 59th minutes before Horler had the last word in the 60th minute to seal the 5-2 win. Wimbledon beat Beeston twice in succession at home for the first time, having won 3-1 last October.