Hockey: G's slip up in hunt for top spot

It could have been worse for Grinstead as only an equaliser from Dwain Kuan Chan in the last 30 seconds salvaged a point from a match they were hoping to win.

The result was also a blow because leaders Old Georgians lost 3-1 at Brooklands MU, which means the top two go into the Christmas recess locked on 27 points apiece.

Player-coach Kwan Browne said: "We messed up again because we could have gone top.

"It was disappointing because we didn't play well. The work ethic from all the players was really low and we had three silly yellow cards which didn't help.

"The guys are all really disappointed and as coach I am disappointed too. But we are still in second place, still unbeaten and still on track to win the league."

Trinidad and Tobago international Browne gave Grinstead a second minute lead from a short corner.

A ding-dong start to the second half saw Kabir Virdi equalise for the Indians only for Quan Chan to restore the lead. Ranveer Virdi made it 2-2, Ashley Jackson put Grinstead ahead for a third time before Prabbjot Hunjan levelled again with a quarter of the match still remaining.

Jagdeep Gill made the hosts ahead with three minutes remaining before Quan Chan's second salvaged a point.

Lewes were highly disappointed after a 1-1 draw away to Oxford Hawks.

It was the hosts' first point of the season from 11 games.

Lewes manager Paul Benoy said: "We didn't play well and we didn't get our gameplan going at all. We knew they would be defensive but we didn't break them down easily enough.

"We had 70 per cent of the possession in the second half but we only played better after going 1-0 down. We need a naturally hungry goalscorer. If we had someone like that we could have scored six."

Oxford took the lead from a penalty flick six minutes into the second half but Lewes secured a point when Luke Hurle scored from a short corner.

Hurle, Alistair Boyse and Marnix Achterberg all had chances for Lewes.