Old Georgians Men’s 1XI delivered a commanding performance at St George’s College, defeating Southgate 8-1 in their second Premier Division match of the season.
The reigning champions started strong and never let up, displaying their attacking firepower and tactical discipline throughout the game.
OGs controlled possession and territory from the outset, putting Southgate on the back foot. The opening goal came as early as the 9th minute, with Sam Ward converting a penalty corner to give OGs an early lead. Their dominance in set pieces was evident as Tom Carson added another goal in the 14th minute, also from a penalty corner, to double their advantage. Southgate struggled to find their footing against OGs’ relentless pressure, and things worsened when James Albery added a third goal in the 18th minute from open play, making it 3-0.
Southgate showed some fight, but the OGs’ solid defensive organisation stifled their attacking efforts. Their frustration boiled over when Jack Middleton received a green card in the 33rd minute, resulting in a two-minute suspension. Despite the setback, Southgate managed to keep the scoreline unchanged heading into halftime.
The second half saw Old Georgians resume their dominance. Alan Forsyth scored a brilliant field goal in the 46th minute to extend the lead to 4-0, and just four minutes later, David Condon added his name to the scoresheet with a clinical finish in the 50th minute. Ward then completed his penalty corner brace in the 55th minute, and by the 63rd minute, he completed his hat-trick with a fine field goal, further asserting OGs’ supremacy at 7-0.
Despite the commanding lead, Old Georgians showed no signs of letting up. Alan Forsyth scored his second goal of the match in the 66th minute, taking the score to 8-0 and rounding off an incredible performance.
To their credit, Southgate never gave up and earned a late consolation when Archie Foster converted a penalty corner in the 70th minute, but it was too little for the visitors.
Key Moments:
- Sam Ward: 9’ (PC), 55’ (PC), 63’ (FG)
- Tom Carson: 14’ (PC)
- James Albery: 18’ (FG)
- Alan Forsyth: 46’ (FG), 66’ (FG)
- David Condon: 50’ (FG)
- Jack Middleton (Southgate): 33’ (Green Card)
- Archie Foster (Southgate): 70’ (PC)
Old Georgians’ set-piece efficiency was the highlight of the match, with three goals coming from penalty corners. Ward’s hat-trick underlined his importance to the team, while Forsyth and Condon were pivotal in driving the attack forward. The defensive unit, led by captain James Albery, and home debutant Ian Sloan remained resolute throughout, limiting Southgate to only a handful of chances.
Speaking after the game, Ian Sloan said:
“I’d been looking forward to my home debut with the club for the last couple of months, and it certainly lived up to the expectations. We played some fantastic hockey and had a great home support. There’s a great atmosphere at the club this season, with a lot of optimism about what we can achieve.”
This win keeps Old Georgians at the top of the Premier Division, with two wins from two matches. The team’s early season form bodes well as they prepare for their next challenge at home again against newly promoted Richmond. With 14 goals scored in just two games, the OGs are sending a clear message to the rest of the league: they’re determined to retain their title.
