M1 Drop To Third After 3-0 Loss At Old Georgians
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men dropped to third in the Men's Hockey League Premier Division after Old Georgians extended their winning run and inflicted Surbiton's first league defeat of the season by winning 3-0 at St. George's College on Saturday evening.
Surbiton failed to score in a regular season league match for the first time since they lost 3-0 at Holcombe in March 2022 and were overtaken by Holcombe, whose 2-1 win at Southgate gave them a two point advantage over Surbiton.
Old Georgians' victory ensures that they will go into 2025 in first place in the Premier Division with a five point lead over second-placed Holcombe.
Sam Ward's 21st goal of the season put Old Georgians ahead in the ninth minute from open play before James Carson doubled the hosts lead from a 14th minute penalty corner.
Phil Roper sealed the victory in the penultimate minute from open play as George Pinner kept a second successive clean sheet following Old Georgians' 5-0 win at Hampstead & Westminster the week before.
Holcombe took the lead at Southgate in the first minute through Matt Ramshaw and although Shane Benfell scored for Southgate, Rob Field earned the 2-1 victory for Holcombe.
Wimbledon are level with Surbiton on 23 points after their 5-0 win at Richmond. Liam Ansell scored twice with James Vallely, Fred Newbold and Sam Hooper also on target at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground.
Hampstead & Westminster also won 5-0 away, their victory at Oxted clinching their place in the Top Six. A Josh Kelly brace plus goals from James Oates, Kei Kaeppeler and Tim Guise-Brown gave them a massive eight point lead over their sixth-placed visitors.
Beeston and Cardiff & Met both missed the chance to move above Oxted into the Top Six. Beeston lost 2-1 at home to Bowdon, who earned their first points of the season. Ollie Rogerson gave Bowdon an sixth minute lead, but although Henry Croft duly levelled, Bowdon were not to be denied with Jack McAuliffe giving them a much needed victory with three minutes left.
Cardiff & Met were held to a 0-0 home draw by East Grinstead. The last goalless draw in the MHL Premier was in October 2022 when Oxted drew at home to the University of Nottingham.
Surbiton end their 2024 fixtures with a home game versus Hampstead & Westminster next Saturday evening. As it's the last round of matches in Phase One, all games are scheduled to start at 1800.