THE TWO Middlesex qualifiers, Teddington and Hounslow, both came unstuck in the semi-finals of the men's South Regional Indoor Qualifier at The Edge Sports Centre in Haslemere on Sunday (writes Sen Cotter).

Teddington reached this stage by finishing runners-up in Pool A. In the first 15-minute game they beat Oxon qualifiers Banbury 5-0 with two open-play goals from Chris Ambridge, one apiece from Nick Ripley and Toby Simmons and a penalty corner conversion by captain Danny Haydon.

The next victims were Oxford Youth Challenge whom they beat 3-0 thanks to goals by Simmons, Ripley and Ambridge.

Hosts Haslemere were then beaten 5-0, with Haydon scoring twice, Ambridge, and Adam Harper getting the other.

But in their final crunch pool game against Holcombe from Kent, Teddington lost 2-1.

That left Teddington facing fellow outdoor National Premier Division club Reading in the second semi-final which, despite an heroic display from keeper Martin St-Gallay, they lost 6-0.

In Pool B outdoor National Division Two side Hounslow and Ealing went down 5-0 to Reading in their first game. But they recovered well following the arrival of player/coach Mike Williamson, a former Welsh indoor and outdoor international and current Kingston Grammar School master. They beat Surrey's Purley Walcountians 2-1 with two goals from Daniel Bradley; then overcame Abingdon by a similar score with a penalty from Ali Evans and penalty corner from Williamson. Finally they defeated Maidstone 2-0 with a penalty corner by Rick Coope and a goal from Williamson.

Unfortunately, key player James Havlin was injured in the last game and was unable to play in the semi-final, which Hounslow lost 4-1 to Holcombe, Evans getting their solitary goal. Reading went on to beat Holcombe 6-4 in a thrilling final and so qualify for the play-offs for next season's National Indoor Leagues. Surbiton are already in the national league's new Division One South formed from old Divisions One and Two and indoor fixtures take place over the weekends of January 11/12 and 18/19.