Men's 1s 5 - 0 Cardiff & Met 1s (H)

Surbiton M1 beat Cardiff at a cold Sugden Road on Sunday afternoon to make it two wins from two on the October double header weekend and maintain their perfect start to the season.

Following a strong team performance and last-minute win at Old Georgians on Saturday, the M1 came into Sunday’s game knowing that a win would keep them at least two points clear at the top of the table as teams move past the halfway stage in Phase 1.

Cardiff had drawn 4-4 at Oxted on Saturday, scoring two late goals of their own to rescue a point, and kept the scoreboard tight in the first half despite Gareth Furlong’s low penalty corner effort to open Surbiton’s account in the third minute.

With the scoreline 1-0 at half time and playing against a deep sitting defence, the home side maintained a patient approach, confident that pressure and possession would pay dividends later in the game. Surbiton were a little sharper in the attacking circle after the break and put away three goals in the third quarter. The first of these was a Nick Bandurak penalty stroke in the 38th minute after a penalty corner was blocked illegally on the line by the postman’s foot. This maintained his record of scoring in every game since joining the club and he added a further penalty corner goal to his tally before Player-Coach Barry Middleton finished off a neat team move from short range midway through the quarter to make it 4-0.

With the game now safe, Jake Payton added the final gloss to the scoreline with a 69th minute field goal, popping a rebound home after a right hand side attack and a couple of misplaced clearances left the ball bouncing around in the Cardiff circle.

Goalkeeper Calum Douglas made some smart saves through the game, including one effortless stick save at a key moment in the first half, and was named Player of the Match after securing a pleasing clean sheet for the home side.

Wimbledon remain second in the table after grabbing a late winner in a 3-2 victory over Brooklands on Sunday. Wimbledon and Surbiton both hold a game in hand over their closest rivals -  this is due to be held at Raynes Park High School on the evening of Thursday 13th November. Next weekend, Surbiton travel to bottom of the table Beeston as they look to continue their 100% win record in the 2025/26 campaign.