Match Report by Alastair Whatley

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Some controversy, some niggle and plenty of goal scoring opportunities kept the spectators on the edge of their toes on Saturday evening in Trent Park as Southgate Men began their campaign with a missed opportunity that sent Cardiff & Met back to Wales with what could prove a decisive 3 points.

Both sides met exactly one year ago in Sophia Gardens in Cardiff which saw Southgate return down the M4 with the points and a 1-4 victory, yet 12 months on with some big signings including Wales international Gareth Furlong coach 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 and the match day squad of 16 saw call ups for Matt Allister and Sam Weissen who joined a new look team ready to take on the best teams in England and Wales in this opening salvo of this years Premier Division campaign. Yet 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 an opponent who just avoided a testing relegation battle at the end of last season.

On a beautiful late summer evening in Trent Park, 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 the ‘Gate runner could only parry the ball high into the net of Scotland International and new Southgate keeper Calum Douglas’ net.

Dan West immediately scored a stunning reverse high under the cross bar which reverberated around Trent Park to the roar of the home crowd before the goal was disallowed due an earlier infringement some moments after as the players all set back waiting for the restart on the half way line.

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 a 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 the most threatening of Southgate’s forward line showcased 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 10th season for the Welsh club.

The Southgate support manning the famous balcony sensed a come back but it was short lived as just three minutes later Rhodri Furlong all but vanquished hope with a fine finish that was led by Scott Rawlings charging the right touch line from a turnover on the half way line brutally punished by Cardiff and their new signing who left Douglas with no chance with a fine finish.

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 7 penalty corners and 12 chances at goal- 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 medalists 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.

Next game OLD GEORGIANS (a) 18:00, St Georges College

Next home game OXTED (h) 18:00, Southgate Hockey Centre