Southgate W1s vs Barnes W1s
Omar Shibli’s side are clear promotion contenders as they continue to work their way to Premier Division status. They sit top of Division South clear by4 points from nearest rivals The University of Exeter after losing just 2 of their first games.
The first game between the two sides ended in a 4-2 away loss for Andy Richardson’s side. In that game the ‘Gate women pulled back a 2 goal deficit after goals from Emma McIntyre and Emma Postings before losing out in the final quarter to goals from captain Aleesa Ferguson and Naomi Kelly.
Last season Southgate came away empty handed with two losses proving that the Barnes team are a force to be reckoned with. Yet losses to Exeter and Surbiton show that there a chinks in he armour despite forward Rachel Goodwin showing signs of a rude vein of form in the back end of the season.
Ellie Robinson the Southgate skipper and her team come into this game missing defender and live wire Liv Richardson who injured her hand in the indoor campaign, yet equally buoyed by a strong performance indoors where the team went undefeated showing their defensive resilience.
A win on Saturday for the Gate would put a real marker down as this side continue to grow in confidence after a storming end to their Autumn campaign taking 10 points from a possible 15 in their last 5 games.