Surbiton Ladies’ hopes of winning the England Hockey League Conference East suffered a setback when a goal in each half condemned them to their third defeat in their last four league games, at Old Loughtonians on Sunday.

However, with the Conference East leadership having musical chairs tendencies, Sevenoaks drew 1-1 against Horsham to return to the top, Ipswich slipping up 1-0 at home to the current in-form side, Harleston Magpies.

In spite of their recent poor form, taking just one point out of their last twelve, Surbiton remain just four points off the lead, and with three of their last four games against the bottom three teams, are still in contention for the title.

In miserable damp conditions, Surbiton dominated, but the Old Loughtonians defence kept the visiting forwards in the 23 metre area, and restricted their ability to make penetrating runs into the circle.

Therefore, scoring opportunities were at a premium, Jessica Brooker shooting past the left post from open play. Old Loughtonians took the lead three minutes before the interval, Anna Coppel converting their second penalty corner.

Surbiton came close to equalising from their own penalty corner at the end of the first half, but in spite of Brooker, Amy Garne, and Victoria Heptonstall’s best efforts, the ball scurried frustratingly past the right post.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 56th minute, Adele Sammons scoring from open play against a ten player defence, Surbiton’s Bethan Jenkins having been sent to the sin-bin two minutes earlier. Shortly after her return to the pitch, teammate Garne was also shown a yellow card, but Old Loughtonians failed to take any further advantage.

Surbiton had also had two power play opportunities, as Sammons was shown a yellow card in the eleventh minute; and Emily Wills had spent four minutes in the sin-bin before Jenkins arrived to join her.

Surbiton will aim to recover their form when ninth-placed Cambridge City, on course for the relegation playoffs, are the visitors to Sugden Road on Saturday (5 March) at 1.30 p.m.

On 12 March, Surbiton visit Ipswich for a must-win encounter, then complete their league programme with a home game against St. Albans on 20 March, and a visit to bottom team, Dereham on 26 March.

SURBITON LADIES v Reading: Tranquille-Day (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Garne, Jenkins, Goodwin, V Bryant, Robinson, Holmes, Ford, A Bryant, Addison. Subs: Ford, James, Morgan, Royce, Heunis (GK) (not used).