Men's 1s 4 - 1 Beeston 1s (A)

Surbiton Men’s 1s continued their 100% winning record to the season with a 4-1 victory over bottom of the table Beeston at Nottingham Hockey Centre on Saturday evening.

In wet and windy weather conditions, Surbiton started fast once again, scoring a field goal through Stu Rushmere - the eighth time in seven games that the M1 have scored in the opening ten minutes this season. Jake Payton stole the ball from a Beeston defender and Rushmere picked up the rebound from his initial shot, driving to open space on the left shoulder of the circle to hit home on the reverse.

Nathan Rozario slid in on the left post to equalise for Beeston following a slick right hand side attack in the tenth minute and the score remained 1-1 until not long before half time. Nick Bandurak maintained his incredible scoring streak since joining Surbiton at the start of the campaign, finishing with a deft backhand touch following a penalty corner breakout and incisive upfield run from Payton. There was some controversy around the initial turnover in Surbiton’s circle, but the goal was given and the M1 went into half time 2-1 to the good.

A stroke was awarded to the visitors midway through the second half, Rushmere’s penalty corner flick having been blocked on the line by a Beeston foot. Bandurak duly dispatched low and hard, giving the men in white a two goal cushion going into the final quarter.

Surbiton’s domination of the ball throughout the game began to tell as Beeston tired late on, and Bandurak completed his hat trick in the 68th minute following a back-to-front counter attack. Conor Williamson picked up an overhead inside the Surbiton circle and played out to Dave Goodfield on the right. Goodfield fed Will Calnan, whose first time pass found Bandurak for another slick backhand finish.

Stu Rushmere was named Surbiton’s Player of the Match following another assured midfield performance and his opening goal.

The M1 have a big three weeks ahead, with Brooklands MU visiting Sugden Road this Saturday followed by a huge Thursday night away game against second placed Wimbledon, Southgate away on Saturday 15th November and a final fixture game against Reading on the final weekend before the winter break. A top 6 place may already be assured, but Surbiton will be gunning for maximum points as they seek to consolidate their position at the top of the table.