Huw Stevens and his players make the long trek to Wales tomorrow evening for a big game at Sophia Gardens in a bid to kick start their Premier Division campaign.
Southgate Men have now played 4 games in this new season, and come away with just the one point. They sit second to bottom in the league table. Yet they have also faced two of the strongest sides in the league including Old Georgians who only last weekend pulled off a shock win against Bloemendaal in the EHL. The team know that to cement their place in the league they have to step up against the sides around them- one of them being this talented Cardiff team.
Cardiff & Met always present a challenge, yet in the last 4 encounters Southgate have won 3 of the games- including all the away games played, scoring 13 goals to Cardiff’s 10. The Cardiff side led by coach Walid Abdo will be hoping to use this fixture to boost their points tally having taken away just one win from their first 4 games that being against bottom placed side Beeston in a close 2-1 home victory.
The Southgate coach is relieved to see the return from injury of Mohan Gandhi who comes in for the injured Xavier Guy and Matti Thomas is coming into the side after a week off to sure up the midfield lines- otherwise the Southgate line up is unchanged from last weekend.
Southgate will be keeping a close eye on Jack Pritchard who scored a brace last weekend against East Grinstead and Scott Rawlings is always a threat in front of goal at PC’s. Yet for captain John Sterlini and the Southgate players holding their nerve in front of a raucous and partisan home crowd in a crunch game when everything is to play for will be key.
Reports from the squad suggest the players have enjoyed a good week of training as they prepare for his game and the double header that follows. 3 winnable games, 9 points at stake and a big chance to cement their place in this competitive Premier Division.