Match Preview
M4 vs Teddington M3,
12PM Saturday 17th December
London Division 2 North
Southgate M4 often fly under the radar- for the last few seasons they have sat largely mid table in the midst of London Division 2 North. Yet quietly and under the leadership of Captain Tom Davies and Vice Captain Mitch Read they have built a formidable team spirit and are beginning to turn some heads in the league.
Yet before such praise goes to any heads they are still capable of turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Their penultimate game before Christmas saw the team confidently arrive at bottom placed Richmond Griffins HQ expecting a large victory only to walk away rewarded with a thumping 7-2 loss.
The team comprises a motley blend of experience, youth and the club Chairman, this week the team is thrilled to welcome Nick Gerrard a Southgate legend well known to many at the club. A former M1 player who played under some august former Coaches he returns to test his legs, back (and ankles) after a decade of rest and recovery. The team also features real Southgate talent in the shapely form of top goal scorer Lum Chau -not not mention England U16 player Zack Michaels who can offer be seen running riot in the midfield.
This weekend the team take on Teddington M3 who are pushing for promotion themselves having lost only one game all season. The away leg back in September saw a depleted M4 side manfully battle out a 1-3 loss with Alex Prior scoring a memorable solo goal. Now on home turf the side and under eyes of coach Led Ible they will be looking to carve out a reply – a win would send a clear message to the league that the side could challenge for a promotion spot. They’ll need the second half of the season to go their way and see more consistency in their form especially away from home.
Defensively the team offers stout resistance to any attacking threat with Charlie Rookes, Magic Mike McClean and David James regular starters alongside the skipper. Freddie Shiret and Akash Dhana love to mix it up in the midfield with the might of Ben Berndes Cade and up front there is a spormgosbord of talent to choose from- Alex Prior, Mitch Read, Alastair Whatley, Myles Alexander Brian, Zech Mengrani to name just a few. Another new addition this week is Univeristy of Exeter signing Rory Mitchell making his debut for the club.
So although not often stealing the headlines, the M4’s have the potential to create a real upset in a league they were nearly relegated from just a few seasons ago. They will need to steel their courage to the proverbial sticking place on Saturday and all eyes will be on Nick Gerrard as he makes a famous return to Trent Park.
