A goal in each half from Helen Grant and Vicky Bryant on Saturday, ensured that Surbiton Ladies hockey team will host Chelmsford in an early season top of the table clash at Ditton Fields, Summer Road, Thames Ditton next Sunday (3 October) push back 1pm.

Chelmsford achieved their second successive 5-0 win, this time over Old Loughtonians, to join Surbiton as the only teams in the England Hockey League Conference East with maximum points after two matches.

Surbiton, who trail Chelmsford on goal difference, had three players making their league debut: Caroline Ford; Clarissa Goodwin; and Anna Macdonald, who was called into the squad at short notice, after Jessica Brooker had to withdraw through illness.

Asha Tranquille-Day, who was named as substitute goalkeeper in the first match against Dereham, made her first league appearance on the pitch as Dulcie Davies was unavailable.

In blustery and showery conditions, Surbiton took a while to find their rhythm.

Nevertheless, both Helen Grant, and Abi Robinson came close to breaking the deadlock. Kelly Morgan and Vicky Bryant also posed threats, but Harleston’s goalkeeper, Charlotte Lee-Smith made important saves.

Harleston are having to come to terms this season with the loss of three of last season’s top scorers. Cherry Seaborn and Artemis Smith have both gone to university; and Angie Wheelhouse, last season’s overall top scorer in the Conference East is unavailable due to pregnancy. Having lost 5-0 at Chelmsford the previous week, Harleston struggled to get shots on target, and the Surbiton defence easily dealt with both penalty corners.

Just as it seemed that the first half was going to be goalless, Grant took control of the situation four minutes before the interval, smashing the ball from the edge of the circle past Lee-Smith and against the backboard.

In the second half, with rain showers a constant threat, Surbiton continued to create chances, only to be thwarted by Harleston’s experienced defenders, and Lee-Smith.

Morgan carried the ball into the circle before colliding with Katrina Warnes; and Victoria Heptonstall set up attacks from the right side of defence.

Fellow defenders, Bethan Jenkins and Lou Gordon both coped easily with the Harleston forwards, but Surbiton’s main attacking threat during the match came from Grant.

Running at the Harleston defence, and showing the ball skills acquired through having played for England and Great Britain, Grant at times terrorised the home defenders, with only Warnes seeming to be immune.

Grant was at the heart of Surbiton’s second goal in the 59th minute, Bryant eventually sending the ball past Lee-Smith following a threatening shot from Grant.

With Brooker absent, Minnie James took on the responsibility of shooting from penalty corners, forcing fine saves by Lee-Smith from both attempts.

After receiving a bye in the first round of the England Hockey Board Women’s Cup,

Surbiton have been drawn at home to Conference East rivals, Sevenoaks in the second round on 24 October.

The Kent side will make a quick return visit to Sugden Road following their scheduled league match on 9 October.

Last season, Surbiton reached the quarter-finals by beating Maidenhead, West Herts and Buckingham before going out to eventual winners, Leicester 6-2 in the East Midlands.

SURBITON LADIES: Tranquille-Day (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Gordon, Jenkins, James; Tait, Rowland-Jones, Robinson; Bryant, Teasdale, Morgan. Subs: Ford, Goodwin, Grant, Hanson Akins, Macdonald.