With both sides securing crucial away wins last weekend, a repeat of last years’ playoff semi-final saw both Holcombe and Surbiton come into the contest high on confidence.

Four wins from four saw the visitors top of the early season table as Holcombe’s second win of the season away at Reading saw them to mid-table.

Content to sit deep and absorb early pressure, Holcombe found themselves victims to a barrage of early chances for the visitors. A sprawling save from George Pinner denied James Gall from close range before the prolific Alan Forsyth saw his close-range effort miss the target.

Twenty minutes in, a well worked penalty corner saw Rob Farrington hit the post from 3 yards with the goal at his mercy before Chris Grassick hammered the opposite post shortly after as Holcombe rode their luck in the opening period.

With just five minutes to play however, the Champions had their breakthrough. A driving run from James Gall along the baseline saw his cross ricochet back into his path before his looping cross was converted by Forsyth at the back post for a deserved lead.

Just two minutes later however, Holcombe had restored parity. A quick free hit from Barry Middleton released Harry Trusler into the shoulder of the circle. His spin and cross connected with a diving Nick Bandurak to send the two sides into the interval on level terms.

Immediately starting on the front foot, Holcombe forced their opponents deep into their own territory, winning a penalty corner from which Bandurak’s flick struck the body of Luke Noblett on the Surbiton goal-line. With a penalty stroke awarded, Bandurak converted high to the goalkeepers’ right to put the Kent side ahead for the first time in the contest.

A fast counter attack saw Holcombe Captain Richard Lane’s strike well parried by Harry Gibson in the Surbiton goal before a flowing move from the back saw Barry Middleton slide in to deflect Rob Field’s cross to give the hosts a two-goal cushion with just 12 minutes to play.

Surbiton began to pressurise in search of a way back into the game and Holcombe were indebted to two goal-line clearances from Barry Middleton as Gareth Furlong and then Luke Taylor saw consecutive drag flicks turned over the bar by the Great Britain International.

In what was fast becoming an end-to-end encounter, Holcombe turned over Luke Taylor just inside the Surbiton half with seven minutes to play, sending Dan Webster and Nick Bandurak through. Webster’s ball across the top of the circle found Bandurak who spun and fired home on the backhand to secure the points.

There was still time for an Arjan Drayton-Chana consolation goal for Surbiton who dropped their first points of the season.

Next week Holcombe travel to Wimbledon, fresh from their venture in the European Hockey League at the start of the month as they look to continue their recent turn of form.

Pictures supplied by Grout Photography.