The M1s growing injury list finally caught up with them on Sunday as they went down 5-2 at Oxted. Now with six core squad members out, the latest being Joe Sterlini who dislocated his shoulder at training during the week, Southgate were desperately short of defenders which proved their undoing conceding three late goals.
The match started in familiar territory for Southgate going a goal down through Oxted’s Andy Cornick in the tenth minute. Jonny Maunder got the equaliser for Southgate seventeen minutes later, with John Sterlini putting them 2-1 up on the stroke of half time.
Oxted in turn equalised in the sixty third minute via Mark Lloyd, taking the lead four minutes later thanks to Robbert Schenk. With Southgate pulling goal keeper Enrico Francesconi in an effort to level the score once more, Oxted took full advantage scoring twice in the last two minutes to give the final score time a flattering appearance.
Southgate now find themselves in third place going into the winter break with the top three clubs only separated by goal difference, and will look forward to having a fully fit squad once again when the league recommences in February as they push for promotion back to the Premier division.
The M2s had a mixed weekend going down 3-1 to Surbiton on Saturday, before beating East Grinstead 5-2 in the defence of their second XI cup title on Sunday.
The M3s drew 1-1 against Tulse Hill & Dulwich and remain in second place in London Div 1.
The M4s had an emphatic 7-0 win over Tulse Hill & Dulwich which sees them move up to 8th in London Div 3.
The M5s recorded their first league win of the season winning 5-0 also against Tulse Hill & Dulwich and they move up to 9th in London Div 5.
The Flagons didn’t play but remain top of London Vets Div 2 by a single point.
Magnums 50’s : Probably did the best of all of us by drawing away 2-2 with second placed Sevenoaks, and are now 3rd with a game in hand. Go Jonny Go !! MOM was Tim Gingell.
Pitchers won 5-0 : MOM Brian Cade again
Tankards X won 6-0 and remain top : MOM young Harry Haynes (15)
Tankards Y came back from 0-2 to draw and keep their record of being the only unbeaten team in the club alive : MOM Neil Murphy