Loughborough Students 2 Surbiton 4

A second successive four-goal haul from co-captain Tim Pinnock ensured that Surbiton went back to the top of England’s elite national premier division on Saturday evening above Reading, who had briefly supplanted them earlier in the day.

The Long Ditton-based club arrived in the East Midlands for their 6pm start at Epinal Way knowing only a win would retain top spot after their Berkshire rivals - trailing them by one point but with a better goal difference - had beaten Cannock 6-2 in an afternoon start in the West Midlands.

Surbiton were without two key players – Matt Daly (injured) and Richard Alexander (family function) – as were Loughborough Students, whose Jon Bleby and John Jackson had gone down with flu during the week.

Surprisingly, despite their transport coach’s congested journey and late arrival, it was the visitors who started the sharper and it wasn’t until the 18th minute that the home team had a shot at goal - and that flew harmlessly across it.

By then, Pinnock had scored from Surbiton’s first two penalty corners in the second and 10th minutes and their former Spanish international Alberto Esteban Velasquez had seen his 11th-minute penalty stroke - awarded after James Tindall was fouled in the circle - well saved by keeper Ali McGregor.

Loughborough Students, an open club who draw on former students (three playing in this game) as well as players not connected to Loughborough University (again three in this game), did manage to force their first penalty corner three minutes before the interval.

But not only did Richard Smith hit the left-hand post with his dragflick, Surbiton hit back to force their third, which Pinnock, almost inevitably in his present rich vein of form, converted in the 35th and final minute of the half.

Loughborough started the second half as brightly as Surbiton had begun the first, with Nick Catlin deflecting in from a left-wing cross three minutes after the resumption.

But Surbiton forced a fourth penalty corner within four minutes from which Pinnock duly made his strike rate four out of four to restore his team’s three-goal margin.

However, for a second week running Surbiton failed to press home their advantage in the final quarter of the game.

This time, however, they did have the excuse of being able to field only three outfield rolling substitutes, while Loughborough had the full five, all used very intensively throughout the game.

Pinnock broke his sequence by putting Surbiton’s fifth and last penalty corner just high and wide right (51 mins) in between Loughborough failing to convert two of their own (47 and 59 minutes).

But Catlin did manage to convert Loughborough’s third and last penalty corner of the half to reduce Surbiton’s final margin of victory to two goals.

So Reading now have a three better goals difference than Surbiton, who have the weekend off and will be dispossessed as leaders if their 100 per cent rivals at least draw when they play their game in hand, which is away to Beeston this Saturday.

SURBITON: Bristow; Tibble, Iglesias-Bilbao, Garrard, Fulker; Moore, Hawes, Houlihan; Tindall, Pinnock, Esteban-Velazquez. Rolling subs (time first on): Middleton (14), Ashcroft (17), Sheridan (18).