Men’s Hockey League Premier Division
Beeston 2 Surbiton 5
Surbiton won their seventh consecutive regular season Premier Division game at Nottingham Hockey Centre with a 5-2 win over Beeston. Beeston haven’t beaten Surbiton on home turf since October 2013, but were in contention until the third quarter when Surbiton scored three goals to take the game away from the hosts.
Both teams made one change to their opening day squads. Beeston brought in Henry Croft for James Hunt and Sam Spencer replaced Jamie Golden for Surbiton.
Ben Boon almost repeated his feat of scoring against Brooklands after just 30 seconds, when in space on the left of the circle, he smashed a shot past the right post, but Beeston did fall behind in the sixth minute from Surbiton’s first penalty corner, Luke Taylor’s drag-flick saved by home goalkeeper, Simon Hujwan only for the rebound to find its way to Farrington to finish from the left of the circle.
Surbiton’s lead lasted just two minutes before Lucas Alcalde equalised from close range. Both teams played attacking hockey with Surbiton quickly playing the ball out of defence and into threatening positions when Beeston’s press failed, whilst Beeston themselves managed to penetrate Surbiton’s defence on occasion.
Alan Forsyth was frustrated in the 22nd minute when his shot ended up the wrong side of the goal from the left of the circle, but was happier when Surbiton’s lead was restored on the half hour when his shot was neatly deflected by James Gall at the right post.
Surbiton pulled away starting in the 44th minute when Luke Taylor found the backboard from their second penalty corner to extend their lead to 3-1. Ben Boon may have missed out in the first minute, but he finished off a blistering counter attack in the 50th minute and right at the end for the third quarter scored from close range to leave Beeston trailing 5-1.
To their credit, Beeston won the fourth quarter 1-0, Adam Dixon rifling the ball in the top left corner from the hosts’ third penalty corner, however but for an umpire consultation, Beeston would have been awarded a penalty stroke, Tom Sorsby initially judged to have stopped a shot from Beeston’s second penalty corner illegally, when the ball actually made contact with his stick.
Surbiton had three chances in added on time at the end of the game to add a sixth goal from penalty corners, but James Royce was thwarted from the third attempt.
Beeston:
Scorers: Lucas Alcalde 8-F, Adam Dixon 62-PC
Starters: Simon Hujwan (GK); Josh Pavis, Ollie Willars, Kyle Marshall, Robbie Gleeson, Gareth Griffiths, Nick Park, Alex Blumfield, Adam Dixon (Capt.), Chris Proctor, Matthew Crookshanks.
Subs: Henry Croft (6 mins), Lucas Alcalde (6), Sam Apoola (6), Tom Crowson (7), Lucas Ward (7).
Cards: None
Surbiton:
Scorers: Rob Farrington 6-PC, James Gall 30-F, Luke Taylor 44-PC, Ben Boon 50-F, 53-F
Starters: Harry Gibson (GK); Luke Taylor, Tom Sorsby, Ben Boon, Jonny Gall (Capt.), Jonty Griffiths, Zach Wallace, James Royce, Alan Forsyth, Brendan Creed, David Goodfield.
Subs: Rob Farrington (4 mins), Arjan Drayton-Chana (6), Sam Spencer (6), Tim Nurse (8), James Gall (8).
Cards: None
Match Official: Andy Barnes
Umpires: Lee Barron and Dan Barstow
by Colin Pike
Images: BeeTV
