This morning Beeston were leading the men's Premier Division by 15 points, so seeing off Surbiton some 17 points beneath them should have been no problem. Only a few weeks ago Surbiton were facing almost certain relegation, but something seems to have happened to them since then. That 'something' was very much in evidence at Sugden Road this afternoon.
It would have been easy to write off James Tindall's second minute goal for Surbiton as a bit of an aberration, but it did not take long to realise that Surbiton were on fire, whilst Beeston could only produce a dull flicker. Robert Schilling made it two only five minutes later, with Alexander Penney mading it three before the half was over.
An early second half goal from Adam Dixon signalled what have been a revival for Beeston – and we've seen them come back from more than 0-3 down in the past – but if there was any sort of revival it soon fizzled out. A 58th minute own goal added to Beeston's misery, which was topped off by a second goal from Tindall just before the final whistle. Final score 5-1 to Surbiton. It was not Beeston's finest hour, but they still remain uncatchable in top place, 12 points ahead of their nearest rival.
Surbiton's win helps cement their place amongst the play-off candidates. They are in fifth place, only two points behind second placed Reading, who had a useful 3-1 win against bottom placed Brooklands MU. Canterbury, who slipped down the table from second to third last week, keep their third place thanks to a win over Hampstead and Westminster.
A Mark Pearn hat-trick, with all three goals being scored in the last ten minutes, rescued a point for East Grinstead in a 3-3 draw away at Loughborough Students. It was a late goal from Peter Jackson that grabbed all three points for Cannock, away at Southgate. The final score there, 2-3 to Cannock.
Apart from Beeston's poll position, the men's Premiership remains remarkably fluid, with only three matches left to play. Nine points separate second place Reading from eighth place Hampstead and Westminster, and the bottom placed Brooklands MU, and ninth placed Southgate, could still avoid the drop with a few surprise results. After all, we saw one at Surbiton this afternoon.
In the East Conference it is still neck and neck between Wimbledon and Holcombe. Both are on 32 points and neither can be caught by the rest of the pack. Wimbledon spoilt third placed Oxted's chances of being in the final reckoning, with a single Johnny Kinder goal in the second half penalty corner at Oxted. Holcombe won their match against Bromley and Beckenham 5-2, and are in second place by the narrowest of goal differences. Issues at the bottom of the table are still to be decided, with two points separating bottom place City of Peterborough from eighth placed Cambridge City with Richmond sitting between the two in ninth.
In the North Conference Bowdon moved four points ahead of second placed Sheffield Hallam after they beat Leek away 0-3. Hallam could only draw 3-3 at Olton & West Warwicks, as did University of Durham at Preston. The University have a game in hand, but are 13 points behind Bowdon and so are out of the running. The North is another Division where the issues at the bottom are still to be decided, with Preston on seven points, Doncaster on 11 and Wakefield on 15.
In the West Conference the leaders, Guildford and University of Exeter, met this afternoon, with the University winning 2-1. Both are on 31 points, with Exeter just ahead on goal difference. They are being chased hard by Cardiff and UWIC , who drew 3-3 against Havant, and Bath Buccaneers, who went down 3-1 at University of Birmingham. Bristol Firebrands are doomed to automatic relegation, but the play off spot could be filled by any of the sides currently fifth to ninth. That's Birmingham Uni, Fareham, Havant, Whitchurch and Cheltenham. It could be an interesting finish to the season in the West.
There was one match in the Investec Women's Premiership this afternoon, when second place Leicester lost their position in the table to Reading, who beat them 1-0.
FULL RESULTS AND TABLES CAN BE FOUND AT www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk. Pictures from the match between Surbiton and Beeston will be on our www.HockeyImages.co.uk site later this evening.
