W1 Give Barnes A Baptism of Fire With 6-0 Victory
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women spoiled Barnes' debut in the top flight and began their 2025-26 Women's Hockey League Premier Division campaign with a clinical 6-0 home win on Saturday evening.
The game can be watched back on SHC TV, on the Surbiton Hockey Club You Tube channel here.
Goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran kept a clean sheet on her Surbiton debut and another debutant, Maddie Axford opened the scoring, whilst Amy Costello also scored on her return to Sugden Road.
Georgie Gardens also made her Surbiton debut after playing for Exeter University last season as the team began their quest to regain the league championship currently owned by Reading.
Barnes fielded many of the players which earned them the Division One South title last season, including the division's top two goalscorers Aleesa Ferguson and Alice Huddlestone, but in spite of recruiting Paige Gillott and Megan Lewis-Williams from Wimbledon and Claudia Swain from the University of Nottingham, Surbiton proved too strong for the newly promoted side.
Barnes had an early chance to attack down the right side before forcing a restart from the 23 metre line, but Surbiton soon settled down, Harriet Mitchell and Maddie Pearce having to combine in the Barnes defence to stop the hosts.
Barnes penalty corner defence was tested early after visiting goalkeeper Millie Dodd was judged to have kicked a Darcy Bourne shot away in a dangerous manner but Costello's first attempt went past the left post.
Bourne had a shot saved by Dodd, but the pressure mounted on the visitors' defence and Axford fired the ball into the net from wide of the left post to put Surbiton ahead in the eleventh minute.
Five minutes later, Giselle Ansley's through pass was gathered by Ellie Mackenzie who carried the ball into the circle before unleashing a spectacular shot from the left of the circle into the far corner to double Surbiton's lead.
Although Barnes were under pressure, Gillott while pressed by Izzy Yonge and Bourne, managed to evade both of them skilfully by rotating and passing between them to temporarily ease the pressure.
After two open play goals, the third goal came a minute before half time, Bourne converting Surbiton's third penalty corner of the match by finding the backboard to put the hosts in control.
46 seconds into the third quarter, Barnes conceded a fourth corner and only the left post prevented Erica Sanders from adding Surbiton's fourth goal of the match.
The fourth goal eventually came in the 45th minute after some further pressure on the Barnes goal. Sophie Hamilton played the ball into the circle, Alice Wills forced a save from Dodd and seconds later Izzy Yonge smashed the ball into the goal in determined fashion.
Goal number five came in the 47th minute, Costello clinically converting Surbiton's eighth penalty corner and with ten minutes remaining, Costello set up the sixth and final goal from the hosts' eleventh penalty corner, Mackenzie deflecting Costello's shot past Dodd to give Surbiton their biggest opening day victory since joining the Women's Hockey League in 2010-11, surpassing the 5-0 win at Loughborough Students in 2022-23.
Barnes will be disappointed, but have plenty of time to adjust to life in the top flight.
Reading needed a last minute goal from Annie Wilson to start the defence of their title with a 2-1 win at Wimbledon. Flora Fletcher gave Wimbledon a third minute lead before Lorna Mackenzie levelled on the stroke of half time.
Rose Tynan scored twice as Hampstead & Westminster beat East Grinstead 3-0, Holly Hunt scoring Hampstead's third goal with eight minutes remaining.
The University of Birmingham also claimed a 3-0 home win, Hannah Pearce scoring twice and Coca Hall also scoring against Bowdon.
Durham University celebrated their first ever match in the Premier Division by beating Clifton Robinsons 2-1. Lorna Crawford scored Durham's first top flight goal, but Evie Grindal equalised from a penalty corner. Evelyn Wilson restored Durham's lead from a penalty corner before half time, but Clifton couldn't find the equaliser.
Mia Moore, Reading's top scorer last season, made an immediate impact for Loughborough Students, scoring twice in a 5-1 win at the University of Nottingham. Amy Cradden opened the scoring and Lucy Mackey and Jess Dyson scored in the second half, Lucy Millington scoring the University of Nottingham's consolation.
Surbiton travel to reigning champions, Reading next Saturday for a rematch of last season's Premier Division Final. Push back at Sonning Lane is 1600.