Alastair Whatley reports from Southgate Hockey Centre in Trent Park

Some controversy, some niggle and plenty of goalscoring opportunities kept spectators entertained at Trent Park on Saturday (21st) as Southgate Hockey Club’s men’s team began their Premier Division campaign with defeat to Cardiff & Met.

Both sides met exactly one year ago at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, when Southgate earned a 4-1 victory, but a year and some big signings – including Wales international Gareth Furlong – later, it was clear that coach Waldo Abdo was determined to right the wrongs from last season.

Southgate had some late changes to their line-up. In the squad of 16 were call-ups for Matt Allister and Sam Weissen, who joined a new-look team ready to take on the best in England and Wales. For coach Huw Stevens, who succeeded from Kwan Browne earlier in the summer, this was a real acid test for a new playing group against opponents who just avoided relegation at the end of last season.

On a beautiful late summer evening at Southgate Hockey Centre, there were chances from the off for the home side with penalty corner flicks (PCs) from Shane Benfell and Archie Foster both being well run down by the Cardiff defence. Yet it was in the second quarter that Ieuan Davies converted a PC in the 25th minute, sending the ball low and right, which post-man Weissen who could only parry high into the net of Scotland International and new Southgate keeper Calum Douglas’ net.

A counter attack just before time from Cardiff led to Jonny Fleck being seen to have been brought down by the Southgate keeper, and a controversial penalty flick was awarded despite protest from the Southgate support, which was duly converted into the top-right corner by Rhys Gowman. The game went into half-time with Cardiff converting the few opportunities they had been allowed with clinical precision.

The second half saw Southgate push hard to gain the momentum, which led to a massive 32 entries into the Cardiff circle across the game. Forward Charles Hamilton was the most threatening of Southgate’s forward line, showcasing his physicality to spectacular effect in
the 45th minute when he drove down the left channel with a reverse carry and continued into the Cardiff D before neatly slotting him the ball past Mark Philpot, who had already made a string of top saves in his tenth season for the Welsh club.

The Southgate support on the famous balcony sensed a come back, but it was short-lived as, just three minutes later, Rhodri Furlong all but vanquished hope. He executed a fine finish to a move led by Scott Rawlings charging down the right touchline from a turnover by Benfell on the halfway line.

The home side continued to press and even took off their keeper in the closing minutes to give the man advantage, but to no avail, as the visitors held firm and denied Southgate the points despite seven penalty corners and twelve chances at goal – but only one of them found the backboard.

Coach Huw Stevens will need his players to be more clinical on Saturday when they meet England champions and European bronze medallists Old Georgians in a headline match up at St George’s College under the lights, in what will be a huge test on the road. There
remains a long road to travel but Southgate will need to find more if they want to steer themselves as challengers in this competitive Premier Division.

Final score: Southgate 1 Cardiff & Met 3

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.  

More information on supporting us monthly or yearly 

More Information about donations