Holcombe lose 1-0 to Surbiton in the Men’s Premier Division phase two while the women’s team are beaten 2-1 at home to Harleston Magpies

Holcombe Men suffered a second Premier Division phase two defeat in as many matches on Saturday.

Visitors Surbiton ran out 1-0 winners at Holcombe Park courtesy of Conor Williamson’s goal - that match coming after the women’s team had also been beaten at home.

Reports by Lucas Ball

Holcombe Ladies lost ground in the race for promotion in the Women’s Division 1 South as Nick Bandurak’s side lost 2-1 to ever-improving Harleston Magpies.

Barry Middleton’s men’s side - who lost to Old Georgians in their previous phase two match - played in the evening and were missing both Nick Bandurak and Phil Roper against the second-placed side.

Holcombe dropped to fourth after the latest defeat.

The first chances of the game came the way of the visitors via a string of penalty corners, the closest the London side came was from a Luke Taylor drag-flick, Middleton clearing off-the-line.

Tom Russell forced James Mazarelo into action from close range soon after before a driving run from Rob Field almost teed up Russell again, Surbiton managing to hold out in defence to keep their clean sheet intact.

Another couple of penalty corners followed for Mark Pearn’s side, one defended and the other saved by Ollie Payne to deny Gareth Furlong, who scored twice against Holcombe in the reverse fixture in Phase One.

As the game edged towards half-time, Sam Taylor stopped a powerful Tim Nurse effort on the line as Holcs conceded yet another penalty corner, this one defended comfortably after a mis-trap at the top of the circle.

Jake Owen was denied a chance at the other end by some superb defending before Taylor was once again the hero at the back, diving across goal to deflect a dangerous cutback out of play.

Midway through the third period, the