Holcombe Men made it two wins from two with another impressive victory at the weekend, winning at Southgate.

Barry Middleton’s side won their Premier Division match 5-2 while Holcombe Women kicked off their Vitality Division One South campaign by beating newly-promoted Southgate.

By Lucas Ball

An electric first-half display from Holcombe Men saw them race into a 3-0 lead in front of a noisy crowd at the Southgate Hockey Centre, with the visitors’ attacking performance arguably deserving of more goals.

Despite that, it was Southgate who tested the opposition goalkeeper first with Ollie Payne forced into action early on, before a cutting Holcombe attack saw Tom Russell played through on goal, the Great Britain Elite Development Programme player slotting superbly past Anton van Loggerenberg.

Full Great Britain internationals Phil Roper and Nick Bandurak were causing Southgate problems and both went close before the hosts hit the post from close range after a counter-attack.

Tim Guise-Brown had a penalty corner effort saved as Holcombe looked for a second before it deservedly came. Vice captain Rob Field superbly beat a number of defenders before playing the ball across goal for Roper, who coolly slotted home a relatively simple chance.

The third Holcombe goal came from an incredible team move, likely to be one of the best goals of the Premier Division season. A number of players were involved in a fast, free-flowing move full of flair and first-time passes, with the ball eventually coming to Sam Taylor in the circle who slid home for a rare goal.

Southgate got a goal back, with Payne given no chance from an upright reverse, volleyed into the top corner.

The third quarter was a quieter affair in terms of chances, though the visitors were able to add a fourth goal. Jake Owen and Roper linked up brilliantly in the build-up before laying it on a plate for Bandurak, who finished well from close range for his second goal of the season.

In the final period, Roper saw a chance well-saved before the hosts had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up.

Soon after, Bandurak had his third of the campaign when Roper drove brilliantly down the left to fire a reverse cross into the circle, the captain sliding in to deflect the ball past van Loggerenberg and make sure of the three points.

Alex Pendle also came close to scoring his first Holcombe goal late on. The last action of the match came via a Southgate penalty corner on the final whistle, from which Archie Foster scored.

Holcombe are one of just three teams who maintained their 100% record and sit joint-top with Wimbledon, who have scored and conceded exactly the same number of goals as the Kent side.

Holcombe women beat Southgate 2-1 courtesy of goals from Emma Bandurak and Phoebe Steele.

Nick Bandurak’s side, playing their first-ever Division One match, took some time to settle into the game but looked largely in control for long spells in the second half, before a late Southgate goal sparked hopes of a comeback for the hosts.

Holcombe harbour ambitions of an immediate return to the Premier Division and will be excited by a number of strong performances throughout the team, particularly from some of their six new signings, who will take time to settle.

The visitors had the first chance of the match when New Zealand international Deanna Ritchie latched onto a through-ball, having her close-range effort saved by Southgate ‘keeper Louisa Bray.

Southgate recovered well from the early scare, however, and dominated the play for much of the first half, restricting Bandurak’s side to counter-attacking opportunities.

Southgate saw a succession of penalty corners defended superbly in the first quarter before 16-year-old goalkeeper Tilly Woodhead - making just her second competitive first-team appearance - made a brilliant save to deny the hosts at the end of the first period.

Holcombe’s opener came from their first penalty corner of the encounter, with a re-award given before Bandurak, who had played superbly up to that point, giving Holcombe the lead, finishing strongly past Bray on the stroke of half-time.

Quickly after half-time, the hosts found themselves with more work to do. An initial penalty corner led to another re-award, with Steele drag-flicking into the corner past Bray to double the advantage for Holcombe.

Holcombe had numerous other chances in the third quarter to add to their lead through Hannah Bond, Ritchie, Lottie Bingham and van der Zwan, though Southgate also could have reduced the arrears when former Holcombe player Charlotte Childs was denied by Woodhead.

Emma McIntyre’s goal in the fourth quarter made for a slightly nervy start, with Woodhead again called into action to deny the home side an equaliser but it was Holcombe who finished the match more strongly.

Bandurak was denied from a penalty corner late on before Bingham saw a chance saved on her debut, with Holcombe able to see out the final few minutes to hang on for three points on the opening day.

Holcombe Men face champions Old Georgians at Holcombe Park on Thursday night (8:30pm) and entry is free, before they head to Sugden Road to take on Surbiton next week as part of another double-header (6pm), with Holcombe women also in action against Surbiton 2s in the Vitality Division One South (3:30pm).