Sevenoaks came from behind to win the much anticipated top of the table clash on Saturday evening, in front of a large crowd at Sugden Road.

Sevenoaks now lead Ipswich by a point, with Surbiton dropping down to third, but still only three points off the lead.

By push back time, Ipswich headed the table by two points after a late winning goal gave them a 2-1 home win over St. Albans.

This meant that whichever team won the Sugden Road clash would be clear leaders at the end of the day, but if the match ended in a draw, Ipswich would stay top with a one point lead.

After 17 minutes, Surbiton were poised to return to the top as an excellent one-two move involving Jessica Brooker and Helen Grant was finished off by Brooker smashing the ball past Sevenoaks’ goalkeeper, Gill Thomson, and against the backboard.

Three minutes before the interval, Surbiton were temporarily reduced to ten players when Emma Rowland-Jones, on her return to the team, was sent to the sin-bin.

Within two minutes, Sevenoaks took advantage of their powerplay, Jet Van Zalen, their Dutch forward, who had scored their goal in each of the three previous meetings, claiming a clean sweep with an open play goal.

Sevenoaks’ winning goal came from their seventh penalty corner, as their in-form specialist, Sophie Crosley, converted for the fourth successive league match, in the 56th minute.

Surbiton couldn’t find an equalising goal against a strong visiting defence which has now conceded only eight goals in twelve league games, so were condemned to a second successive home league defeat after remaining unbeaten in their first ten matches.

Three teams now appear to be in contention for the Conference East title, as Chelmsford lost further ground after a 4-0 defeat at Horsham.

The Essex side have taken just one point from their first three league matches of 2011. Last season, Sevenoaks were pipped to the championship on goal difference by Ipswich, who failed to get promotion to the Premier Division after failing to finish in the top two in the Promotion Play-offs.

Fifth-placed Horsham are Surbiton’s next league opponents on Saturday (19 February) push back 12 noon; and on Sunday, Surbiton welcome Premier Division side Reading to Sugden Road for their Women’s Cup Quarter-Final (push back 11.30 am).

SURBITON LADIES: Tranquille-Day (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Jenkins, Gordon, Garne, Goodwin, V Bryant, Grant, Robinson, Addison, A Bryant. Subs: Brooker, Rowland-Jones, Tait, Ford (not used), James (not used).