3rd/4th Place: Surbiton HC (m) – Club de Campo de Madrid (m)

Match report

Surbiton ended English clubs’ 10-year wait for an EHL medal as they won their third game of the week, earning BRONZE.

They were good value for the result as first half goals from David Goodfield and Gareth Furlong proved pivotal as Club de Campo stormed back but could not get back on terms in a feisty second half. It gave an English club a first medal since Reading in 2012.

Jamie Golden cracked one toward the top corner five minutes in but Mario Garin plucked out an outstandng save with his left hand. Ore Ogunlana made the first of his stops in those early exchanges.

Goodfield opened the scoring in the 18th minute with an absolute rocket. He drove in from the left sideline and exchanged a pass through Tim Nurse’s legs, gliding across the D and then smashing in a shot.

Jose Basterra’s trickery opened up a great chance but he could only hit the outside of the goal as the game swung from end to end. Gareth Furlong doubled the lead when he ripped in a drag-flick three minutes before half-time.

The Spanish side threw everything into the second but they found the Surbiton defence in mean mood. Tom Sorsby saved a corner off the line while Ogunlana brilliantly dived to deny Quique Gonzalez.

In a fractious closing quarter, Campo got a lifeline when Ignacio Rodriguez got the faintest of touches to a Ricardo Sanchez crash ball into the circle from a messy corner.

In the endgame, though, it was Surbiton who created the big chances to score, Nick Park’s bat-down going inches wide and Jamie Golden shooting off the bar from a corner rebound.

Ore Ogunlana was also vigilant with some steady work and with his corner defence team to ensure his side stayed in the clear to the final whistle.

Reflecting on the achievement, Surbiton coach Mark Pearn was thrilled with how his side came together: “We had a bit of a rebuild this season and a young squad. For us to come out here and play four games in six days, with the injuries we had at home, they guys have really acquitted themselves. Other than the first quarter against Rot-Weiss, we put in really good performances across the games and we are delighted to come away with the medal.

“We’ve some really talented youngers players. Nick Park has come in, Tim Nurse was really strong this season. We felt we could do well and came through that first game. We felt we could beat Dragons. It was disappointing we didn’t show up in the first half against Rot-Weiss and give them a proper game.

“Today showed a lot about the guys to turn around within 24 hours, play that well to hang on and get the result.”

On a personal level, it was Pearn’s first European medal since winning the old European Cup in 2003 a a player, a long time coming in his illustrious career

“We had some good success with Reading, winning the old European Cup in 2003 and some good times with East Grinstead and now Surbiton in the EHL. The fact we are in the FINAL4, giving ourselves a chance to learn, is a big benefit for the club. We want to create a legacy for Surbiton in Europe and this is the first part of it.

“It’s an amazing club and we have some great aspirations. In terms of the people, they back all of the teams and it is amazing for us to be able to support our Under-14s in the last couple of days.

“They did brilliantly, the girls getting a silver medal and the boys just missing out on bronze. To have four teams over here for the last number of days, it says a lot about where we are and we can compete with the best in Europe at all ages and both genders.”