Southgate Men take on East Grinstead in a must win game as Phase 2 of the EH Premier Division continues under the lights in Trent Park on Saturday night.
Huw Stevens’ side came away from Cardiff with a crucial 3 points but will be looking to turn the tables on the Wes Jackson coached side who make the journey to Southgate ready to start their own Phase 2 on a winning note. In points terms EG sit 2nd of the 6 teams in phase 2. They have 11 points with a game in hand to Southgate who have 8. The aim over these 5 games is to finish 1st or 2nd in this group of 6. With that achieved Southgate secure Premier Division status for next season and would still have a chance to qualify for the playoff weekend. The bottom four teams will carry their points over and gi into a relegation play off over 3 final games.
Given Southgate started on just 5 points they came into Phase 2 nursing an 8 point gap up to the Cardiff who sit 1st in the group after phase 1. The win on Saturday has closed that to a gap of 5 points but it means the only way that John Sterlini and his players can guarantee they move into phase 3 in the top 8 is to keep on winning their games. Richmond and Bowden are both tough away fixtures – there will be no easy games. Yet Southgate have shown their quality against some of the top teams in the league not to mention making it through to the finals of the super sixes in January. The best is yet to come the Southgate supporter would like to think.
Back the game on Saturday against EG. The away leg was played in the middle of storm Bert which provided a wet and windy backdrop for a game that got away from John Sterlini and his players in a tough game for a Southgate supporter. Yet the team come into this contest full of confidence and ready to right the wrongs of that dark November night in East Grinstead. It looks like EG’s pre Christmas signing in the form of GB international Nick Bandurak is out with injury, he scored two important in his only appearance for the club and his presence could be missed on Saturday.
Get down to the Gate to cheer on the side and enjoy the post game party.