Last weekend we commented on how the bottom six of the table were only separated by three points. Despite yesterday's Premier Division matches all ending with wins, that position remains unchanged, although the mix is somewhat different.
The real winners from yesterday afternoon were East Grinstead. TalkHockeyRadio was there to see them have a fairly comfortable 3-1 win against Southgate. EG had all their GB players on the pitch, including Ashley Jackson back from injury, but the goals came from Andy Piper, Matt Cox and Adam Jordan. East Grinstead move up to fourth, whilst Southgate slump to bottom place.
Surbiton rocketed up the table to seventh as a result of a 4-1 win over Brooklands MU. Before we get carried away, that's still only one point off the bottom place they occupied until yesterday.
Loughbrough Students seemed to be in the driving seat at home to Hampstead and Westminster. The Student's Chris Griffiths scored in the third minute, followed by an Andy Bull penalty corner strike 17 minutes later. Although Neil Hamilton pulled one back for the Londoners just before half time, it was their Will Naylor who did the damage in latter part of the second half, with two goals to give the visitors a 2-3 win. With the bottom half of the table being so tight, three points can have a dramatic effect. Hampstead rise from nineth to sixth, with the Students dropping one place to fifth.
At the top of the table, Beeston refound their form with a 4-1 win over Reading. Sam Dixon, Carl Smith (2) and Ben Arnold all found the net before Reading earned a late consolation goal from a Richard Mantell corner strike in the 63rd. The defeat sees Reading slip down the table from sixth to eighth. Second placed Canterbury received a real pasting off visiting Cannock, despite taking an early 2-0 lead. The final score, 2-6 , leaves Cantebury and Cannock in second and third place respectively, but the margin is reduced to two points.
The top two places in the North Conference are still very tight after yesterday's matches. Sheffield Hallam came from behind to win 1-2 away at University of Durham, whilst Bowdon had a 1-0 home win against Belper. Sheffield Hallam lead the table, one point ahead of Bowdon.
In contrast to the Premier Division, it's the top of the West Conference where only a few points separate the leading teams. Guildford move to the top of the table after a 1-3 win away at University of Birmingham. They are separated on goal difference from second placed Cardiff and UWIC, who beat University of Exeter 2-1. Just how tight the table is, is demonstrated by the University's drop from top spot to fourth as a result of that defeat. Fareham's visit to Bath was a forgettable one with an own goal in the 12th minute, which the Buccaneers were able to add a further four, with Tim Davenport scoring a hat-trick. The 5-0 win means that Bath Buccaneers move back into third place after slipping back one last weekend.
There were two late but important results in the East Conference yesterday, and hence the reason for our round-up appearing this morning. Holcombe continue to lead the table with a 5-4 win over Old Loughtonians. Wimbledon, who held pole position until last weekend, slipped up again when they visited Cambridge City. Wimbledon has a fair contingent of exiles from Surbiton in its ranks, including Ben Marsden, who scored the opener in the fourth minute. But the City has its own fair share of recycled internationals, both of whom were on the scoresheet. Scottish international Stephen Dick equalised in the 16th minute, whilst veteran England and GB international Nicky Thompson scored City's third just before half time. Final score 4-3 to Cambridge City. The result means that Cambridge City only move up one place to seventh in crowded mid table. Wimbledon still have a three point buffer between them and Bromley and Beckenham in third place. The Becks went down at Oxted 2-3.
FULL RESULTS AND TABLES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE AT www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.
PICTURES FROM THE MATCH BETWEEN EAST GRINSTEAD AND SOUTHGATE WILL APPEAR ON OUR PICUTURES WEB SITE AT www.HockeyImages.co.uk later. WE ARE CURRENTLY CARRYING OUT AN UPGRADE TO THE SITE. HENCE THE DELAY.
