Tom Richford believes the time has come for Canterbury Hockey Club’s relegation rivals to start looking over their shoulders.

Canterbury’s superb 4-2 home victory over second-placed Surbiton on Saturday was one of the shock results of the National League, Premier Division season.

The win, only their second of the campaign, moved the bottom club to within striking distance of the three teams above them, and skipper Richford says if he was them, he’d be starting to get worried.

He said: “Before Christmas people were thinking we were all but relegated but the last three games (when they have taken seven points from nine) have given us a real chance.

“The Surbiton result will have raised a few eyebrows but we feel that’s how we should have been playing all season.

“The teams above us are going to be looking over their shoulders a little bit more nervously. We feel the pressure is now more on them than us when before it was the other way round.

“We’re fully aware that we’re still the underdogs and if they win their games, there’s not much we can do but we are full of belief and enjoying our hockey. We all feel we can still get out of trouble.”

Richford admits few people would have given Canterbury much chance of humbling Surbiton but says morale is high after back-to-back wins.

He said: “The victory against Surbiton was the result of a real team effort and that’s our strength. We don’t rely on one or two individuals.
“If that was the case, teams can make plans to stop you playing but we have players contributing from all over the pitch.”

The gap to next-to-bottom Cannock is now down to four points, with just five separating Canterbury from Hampstead and Westminster and Beeston.

Canterbury still have to play Cannock and Beeston and of their five remaining games, two are at Polo Farm and three away, starting with the trip to third-placed Reading on Sunday.