Richard Swan scored the goal of the season (so far) in an entertaining and fast paced game where 3 Southgate points felt within reach.
After the long Christmas break it was a suitably chilly afternoon in East Grinstead that served up the background to this eagerly awaited contest between two clubs who have had their fair share of battles in recent years. The last game on 25th October ended in a 1-1 draw in which East Grinstead likely rued a lost opportunity, months later it was Southgate who arguably looked the better of the two sides and had chances aplenty to convert what was a solid draw into a famous victory.
Allan Dick the veteran Southgate goal keeper made his annual appearance out of retirement for the fixture with Erdal Demir away and he was called into action within minutes after a PC was awarded when Xavier Guy inadvertently knocked the ball away which saw a long corner swiftly upgraded to a penalty corner by umpire Nick Padget. Dick made the save look easy diverting the ball with a firmly out-stretched glove, yet those opening minutes saw East Grinstead press hard as they swamped the Southgate players whenever they had possession, then swiftly counter attacking and forcing numerous early scoring opportunities. The Southgate defence stood firm and slowly as the first quarter ticked away, the visitors began to find some momentum as the game slowly changed.
Southgate’s Allan Dick saves a penalty corner. East Grinstead v Southgate – EH Men’s Premier Division Lower Six at Southgate Hockey Centre, Trent Park, London, UK on 15 March 2026.
Photo by Simon Parker/SP Action Images
Dan West, on the cusp of quarter time, drove a ball into the D only to be impeding as he pivoted onto his reverse, umpire Johnny Downer immediately signalled a penalty flick to the frustration of the more voluble EG supporters- Xavier Guy calmly walked forwards and beat Oliver Smart for pace converting the first goal of 2026 for Southgate and sending the Huw Stevens coached team 0-1 up.
East Grinstead v Southgate – EH Men’s Premier Division Lower Six at Southgate Hockey Centre, Trent Park, London, UK on 15 March 2026.
Photo by Simon Parker/SP Action Images
The game ebbed and flowed through the second quarter, two shots flying across Allan Dick’s goal looking for and failing to find the far post deflection, both drawing audible gasps of missed opportunity from the sidelines. Southgate won no less than 3 penalty corners at the other end all of which were well saved by Smart in the EG goal, who it must be said put in a game changing performance between the posts. As the sky loured into ever darker hues and the wind whipped around the hedgerows, the supporters massed in a huddle of cloaks and robes against the bitter cold and the game seeped into half time with Southgate holding onto their narrow advantage- but not before a final PC was awarded to the home side which was saved magnicifently by Allan Dick who roared like a lion as he ensured Southgate held their hard won lead.
The 3rd quarter was arguably one of the most exciting 17 and a half minutes of 2026 so far- it started calmly enough but crashed into life when EG’s Stephen Perry took out a Southgate player and was sent off with a 10 minute yellow. Southgate immediately capitalised when captain John Sterlini sent an exocet aerial the length of the pitch (or at least half of it) onto the baseline finding Richard Swan who brought the ball down with calm control before surprising everyone by offering up an inventive cross between an upright reverse on the volley and a tomahawk smash- and from an almost impossible angle he fired the ball adroitly past Smart, the ball crashing into the sideboard to the gasps of- pretty much everyone. 0-2. Southgate were away.
…Until they weren’t. Xavier Guy evened up the numbers with a green card in the 44th minute and soon after the Southgate players just lost their edge for a crucial few moments and allowed EG back into the contest with Max Lowrey beating Allan Dick with a well placed drag flick in the 48th minutes followed by Jonty Elmes finishing off a wonder run by Oliver Baxter down the right onto the baseline and putting his team mate in on goal in the 50th minute from an unfortunate turnover in the middle of the pitch. The quarter ended up 2-2 with all to play for as we moved into the final quarter.
…and that quarter was largely all Southgate- who enjoyed 6 shots from open play- 3 of which were on target- to EG’s 1 shot, and no less than 4 PCs. One of which firstly looked like it limped over the line from James Hickson’s flick before the second phase rebound looked as if it collided with the under-netting and somehow ricocheting out. It was a superb call from umpire Downey and was proved right in the video playback – a top piece of umpiring but not helpful to the Southgate players who pressed on and hard for the winning goal.
East Grinstead v Southgate – EH Men’s Premier Division Lower Six at Southgate Hockey Centre, Trent Park, London, UK on 15 March 2026.
Photo by Simon Parker/SP Action Images
Joe Hillyer and Ryan Grey both went close but it was in the final seconds of the game when Sterlini found Matti Thomas on a counter attack who drove into the EG D and brilliantly slipped the ball to his left finding Charles Hamilton who swept the ball surely goal bound with Smart seemingly beaten, yet somehow the 6ft 6 keeper Smart dived to his right and with his stick somehow miraculously parried the ball to safety- an extraordinary save and denied Southgate the win.
East Grinstead v Southgate – EH Men’s Premier Division Lower Six at Southgate Hockey Centre, Trent Park, London, UK on 15 March 2026.
Photo by Simon Parker/SP Action Images
When the final whistle blew, the Gate players fell to their knees in frustration- and yet coming into the game they were the underdogs. Coach Huw Stevens reported that he felt proud of the performance and simultaneously disappointed in the result with 2 points left out on the pitch. Yet the stats from the game show the sides were almost matched 50/50 throughout what was an enthralling and wholly entertaining game played in the best spirits of competitive hockey. The Southgate players looked re-energised and showcased an augmented brand of hockey in a new formation finding small triangles on the offensive, offering quick outlet and not to mention some electric driving runs from James Hickson which left the half the opposition in his wake. It was a fine performance all round.
The result means that Southgate hold onto their 10th place and East Grinstead firm in 7th- yet this weekends double header could change everything. Southgate take on bottom placed Beeston who looked resurgent in their 1-3 away win to Cardiff on Sunday and then 9th placed Cardiff on Sunday afternoon. 6 points could see Southgate favourites for the all important top 8 berth for phase 3.