Surbiton’s men repaid Reading’s hospitality in agreeing to switch venue of the Saturday’s national premier division fixture by scoring a late winner!

With Surbiton’s water-based Sugden Road pitch still not ready, their new-look side headed to Berkshire missing two internatonals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Initially the Surrey side were kept in the game by a third successive world-class display of the season from goalkeeper Chris Bristow.

While Reading, with five players away in India, could not convert any of their seven penalty corners, Surbiton netted two from five.

Captain Tim Pinnock scored a penalty corner equaliser two minutes after Warren D’Souza’s 21st-minute free-play opener, only for Andy Watts to put Reading ahead again two minutes later.

Then visitors put in a much-improved second-half display, encouraged by Pinnock equalising for a second time when he rocketed a penalty corner into the roof of the net three minutes after the interval.

With both sides having gone close to another goal, Surbiton’s Nick Cooper darted into the circle for Sam Middleton to divert home a decider from close range with two minutes left.

The result moved Surbiton up from sixth to fourth in the 10-team league.

This Saturday the Long Ditton-based club have to play a fourth successive match on the road, this time in the outskirts of Manchester (3.45pm) courtesy of their opponents, bottom side Brooklands MU.

Wimbledon dropped to seventh in Men’s Conference East after a thrilling 4-3 defeat at Indian Gymkhana.

Sam Ornbo, Sam Pike and Sam Malti scored for Wimbledon, who host St Albans on Saturday.

The continuing issues at Sugden Road means Surbiton Ladies head to Sevenoaks this weekend.

Both are among four teams level on points at the top after Surbiton lost their 100 per cent record last Saturday..

Emma Rowland-Jones and Jessica Brooker fired Surbiton into a 2-0 lead at Ditton Fields only for Chelmsford, another of the sides at the top, to hit back with two goals of their own. Horsham are the fourth team tied at the top.

make a trip to Sevenoaks having switched venues as the new Sugden Road pitch is not yet ready. After last Sunday’s fixtures, including a 2-2 draw which ended both Surbiton’s and Chelmsford’s 100 per cent records; and 1-0 wins for both Horsham, and Sevenoaks, only goal difference separates the top four teams in the England Hockey League Conference East.

Helen Grant was missing from the Surbiton squad for the first time in three seasons of competitive matches, but even without her influence, Surbiton established a 2-0 lead after just sixteen minutes at Ditton Fields. Emma Rowland-Jones opened the scoring in the seventh minute, followed by Jessica Brooker’s strongly hit penalty corner conversion.

Chelmsford are aiming for promotion in their second season at Conference level after being relegated from the Premier Division in 2009, and levelled through two goals in a three minute spell. Kat Hales pulled a goal back in the 25th minute, closely followed by Jess Ecott’s penalty corner equaliser.

Chelmsford stay top, but for the second week running will play the second placed team, as Horsham beat Harleston Magpies 1-0 to overtake now third-placed Surbiton. Sevenoaks moved up to fourth with a 1-0 win over Ipswich.