By Lucas Ball
Holcombe are looking to return to winning ways on Saturday evening with Beeston the visitors to Holcombe Park on the second weekend of Premier Division Phase Three action.
Both sides lost their opening matches by the odd goal, Hampstead & Westminster taking all three points in a 1-0 win at Holcombe, while Beeston lost 5-4 to Old Georgians.
Holcombe won the Phase One meeting between these two sides 10-0 at Holcombe Park back in November but have won just two of their last six matches since the start of Phase Two.
Both sides need a win to ensure that their hopes of qualifying for League Finals weekend are still alive heading into the final round of fixtures on Saturday, 6th April, with next weekend off for Easter.
Beeston have conceded 72 goals in 17 matches so far across all three phases – only the University of Nottingham, who sit second-bottom and four points from safety, have conceded more with 74.
Old Georgians, Wimbledon and Surbiton could all-but secure their League Finals weekend spots with victories this weekend, while defeats for Reading and the University of Nottingham could see their relegations to Division One sealed.
Holcombe, in contrast to Beeston, have the best defensive record in the Premier Division with just 21 goals against in 17 – while Barry Middleton’s side’s 62 goals scored ranks third, only behind Old Georgians, who have already secured their Euro Hockey League ticket for 2024/25, and Surbiton.
Beeston have scored 52 in 17, averaging more than three goals per game.
Entry is free at Holcombe Park on Saturday and updates will be provided across Holcombe’s social media channels. The match will be streamed on Veo Live.
Other Premier Division fixtures (Saturday, 23rd March, 2024):
Pool A:
6:00pm – Old Georgians vs. Hampstead & Westminster
Pool B:
4:30pm – Wimbledon vs. Oxted
6:15pm – Surbiton vs. Southgate
Play-Offs:
6:00pm – East Grinstead vs. Reading
6:00pm – University of Nottingham vs. Cardiff & Met
Image: Martin Waight