A SURPRISE 2-1 loss away to relegation-threatened Chelmsford saw Surbiton Hockey Club drop to sixth in National Premier One, writes Sean Cotter.

Neither a detailed game plan nor the presence of injured double-Olympian Jimmy Wallis on the bench could overcome an opposition goalkeeper in inspired form.

Adrian Kimber was only beaten by a Tim Pinnock 26th-minute penalty stroke. Before and after that he saved everything Surbiton could fire at him, including seven penalty corners. By contrast South African international Gareth Carr converted the third of his three attempts in the 44th minute.

Ben Farmer hit the winner for Chelmsford from a turnover breakaway eight minutes later while his side were temporarily reduced to ten men and nothing Surbiton fired at Kimber thereafter could produce an equaliser.

The loss dropped Surbiton two places, just one point ahead of Old Loughtonians, who occupy the first of two relegation play-off positions and whom they play this Sunday at Sugden Road, 2pm. It will be the side's 250th game since promotion to the national league in 1991.

Meanwhile Teddington Hockey Club predictably lost 4-0 at home to title chasing Cannock.

Teddington, themselves in the second-bottom automatic relegation spot at the half-season break, had New Zealand international James Nation taking over as player/coach from departing coach Sam Naismith and Luke Ripley and South African Leo Quayle playing for the first time this season after injury.

They also had three of their four mid-season signings on show Luke Hodges returned from Hampstead and Westminster, plus Mickey Williamson from the same club via Cambridge University, and reserve keeper Chris Andrews from Oxford University.

Although the new-look side held their Staffordshire opponents until the seventh minute of the second half, they then conceded four goals in 14 minutes.

Teddington face an equally daunting visit to third-placed Loughborough Students this Sunday.

They will hope Mark Darbon, a close-season signing from Hampstead, will be available and Malaysian international Chua Boon Huat will return after a family bereavement.