Holcombe kicked off the Kwan Browne era with a 5-3 win over Wimbledon on Saturday, with Tom Russell scoring as well as four debutants in Teague Marcano, Mubashar Ali, Matt Ramshaw and Ali Shan.

It was a spirited comeback from the hosts who found themselves 2-0 and then 3-1 behind to a team that did the double over them last season.

Sam Hooper, formerly of Holcombe, gave Karl Stagno’s side the advantage from the penalty spot just seven minutes in, with Ben Francis doubling the Wombles’ lead three minutes later from a penalty corner.

Holcombe had not started badly at all but found themselves two down early on, on the opening day.

Wimbledon had defended well on some forays forward with Ore Ogunlana also performing well between the posts for the visitors.

Russell then halved the deficit with a deflection from the top of the circle towards the end of the first half but Wimbledon re-established their two-goal lead inside the first minute of the second half through captain Ed Horler.

Marcano, fresh from a superb Pan Am Challenge with Trinidad & Tobago, then cut inside from the right to fire brilliantly past Ogunlana on the reverse before, seven minutes later, Mubashar Ali drag-flicked superbly into the top-corner at a penalty corner to level the scores with a few minutes left in the third quarter.

Within just three-and-a-half minutes of the final quarter, England international Ramshaw turned home following a goalmouth scramble before former Pakistan captain Ali Shan perhaps settled the goal of the season debate on week one.

After quickly taking a free hit, he drove into the circle at speed and first past Ogunlana into the top corner from a tight angle, sparking wild celebrations as he sealed the points with seven minutes to go.

The Wombles had, had a goal disallowed earlier in the match, before Holcombe took the lead, after having 12 players on the pitch, also resulting in a green card for Horler.

Holcombe travel to Cardiff & Met in Wales on Saturday (18:00), with this weekend’s hosts having won 3-1 away to Southgate on Saturday.

Image: Theresa Field