M1 Up To Second After 5-3 Win Over Oxted
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Men moved up to second in the Men's Hockey League Premier Division Top Six after an entertaining 5-3 home win over Oxted on Saturday night.
Surbiton are seven points behind leaders Old Georgians with four games remaining in Phase Two, with Holcombe slipping from second to third following their 3-1 defeat at Old Georgians.
Holcombe are a point behind Surbiton with Wimbledon a further two points behind in fourth after coming from 3-1 down to beat Hampstead & Westminster 4-3 at home on Saturday night.
At Sugden Road, Oxted gave a debut to Rory Wallace, brother of former Surbiton player, Zach Wallace and also included former Surbiton player Rob Mugridge in their squad.
Surbiton became the fifth team to score in the first minute of a Men's Premier Division fixture this season when Jake Payton opened the scoring after just 28 seconds after Oxted goalkeeper, Robert MacLennan initially saved.
The previous fastest goals for Surbiton this season were by Payton against Wimbledon and Jake Smith against Beeston, both goals also scored at Sugden Road.
Surbiton had to wait until the 16th minute for goal number two, Stuart Rushmere doubling the lead from open play.
Surbiton and Oxted had also met on the opening day of Phase One, when Surbiton won 4-2 and Oxted pulled a goal back in the 22nd minute when Oliver Bennett converted a penalty corner.
Struan Walker restored Surbiton's two goal lead in the 38th minute, tapping the ball home from close range and when Rushmere scored his second goal of the match ten minutes later, finding the backboard from a penalty corner, Surbiton were well in control with a 4-1 lead.
But Oxted had no plans to give up and with eight minutes remaining, Charlie Axford put away a rebound after a James Mazarelo save to ensure the score matched the opening day result as Surbiton led 4-2.
However, that was not to be the end of the scoring in the rematch, Adam Buckle's run setting up a fine finish for Jake Smith to smash into the Oxted net with two minutes to play.
Oxted had the final say a minute later as Surbiton accidentally turned the ball over, Michael Royden-Turner playing a one-two move with Josh Nurse before sending the ball past Mazarelo to make the final score 5-3.
The match can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here.
Old Georgians maintained their one hundred per cent record, Chris Proctor, Alan Forsyth and Sam Ward all netting, as the reigning champions came back from 1-0 down to win 3-1, Alex Pendle having given Holcombe a second minute lead.
Old Georgians visit Hampstead next week and the Paddington Rec team lost 4-3 at Wimbledon after leading 3-1 in the 54th minute. Jonny Lankfer opened the scoring for Wimbledon in the eighth minute, but Hampstead stormed back with goals from Rupert Shipperley, Tim Guise-Brown and Stephen Kelly. Wimbledon's comeback started in the 56th minute courtesy of Fred Newbold, with Euan Gilmour and Ed Horler scoring in the 61st and 63rd minutes to steal the three points back.
In the Lower Six, Cardiff & Met lead Beeston by three points having played a game more. Both teams won, Cardiff & Met emulating Surbiton by beating Bowdon 5-3 at home. Scott Rawlings and Jack Pritchard both scored twice for the Welsh side, with Matthew Magann scoring their fifth goal. Simon Egerton, Maks Wyndham-Smith and Carlos Dolado-Hollyman replied for Bowdon, who still have hopes of avoiding an immediate return to Division One.
Beeston beat Richmond 2-1, with Henry Croft, going back to where he left off in Phase One by continuing to score in successive matches, this time scoring both Beeston goals. Croft scored in ten of the eleven Phase One matches and is currently on a run of scoring in four successive games. Owen Barnes scored for Richmond.
East Grinstead are a point behind Beeston after they drew 3-3 at Southgate. Southgate had won 3-2 at Cardiff & Met last Saturday and took the lead through Archie Foster. Thomas Tyers levelled for East Grinstead. Jack Middleton converted from a penalty stroke to restore Southgate's lead, only for Stephen Perry to equalise by half time.
After four goals in the first half there was late drama as both teams scored in the 69th minute, Charles Hamilton scoring for Southgate and Louis Tipper netting for East Grinstead to ensure that the points were shared.
Next Saturday, Holcombe are the visitors to Sugden Road, push back 1800.