Teddington Hockey Club let an early lead slip on the road against a very strong Southgate side as they lost 5-1 in Men's Division One South. Murray Collins reports on Teddington's 5-1 defeat against Southgate.

It was another strong test for the Teddington Men's 1s this weekend as they travelled to Southgate to play a new-look side under the floodlights.

With big ambitions for the season, Southgate snapped up acclaimed player/coach Kwan Browne in an excellent bit of transfer business and with him came a number of international level players that have really bolstered their squad.

A boisterous crowd, clearly feeling the effects of the clubs "Octoberfest" celebrations cheered on the home side, however it was the Teddington boys who struck first. Robbie Shepherdson, having recently donned the number 9 shirt played a one-two with Ed Treece before coolly slotting it through the keeper's legs. 

Sadly, that was the starting gun on Southgate's emergence in the game. They responded two minutes later with a goal from West.

Teddington had two corners well-saved and George Oyebode kept one out calmly at the other end. A goalmouth scramble was then converted by Ramshaw for Southgate and that was how things stood at the break.

Despite good intensity from Teddington, Southgate played well and aggressively on the break and converted three penalty corners in the second half, two by Marcano and a second for Ramshaw.

Things weren't helped by some ill discipline from the Teddington players,who were getting understandably frustrated with the game being wrenched away from them. 

It finished with a disappointing 5-1 defeat, but the Teddies felt there were positives to take out of the match and they vow to fight back this coming weekend in an exciting home fixture against local rivals Old Cranleighans.