By Lucas Ball
Holcombe are looking to make it back-to-back wins to start their Premier Division season as they head to Southgate on Saturday as part of a double-header.
Holcombe’s women first take on Southgate in the Vitality Division One South (4:30pm) before the Premier Division clash (7pm).
Barry Middleton has made one change to his squad for the trip to the newly-promoted outfit, with new signing Louis Duprez coming in for Tom O’Keeffe.
Great Britain goalkeeper Ollie Payne was the only man with a clean sheet to his name after the first round of fixtures, with Phil Roper (2), Nick Bandurak and Tim Guise-Brown also on the scoresheet in a dominant victory against Reading.
Roper and Bandurak, part of Holcombe’s Great Britain contingent, once again have the potential to be one of the most frightening attacking duos this season alongside the likes of Alex Pendle, Tom Russell, Rob Field and Jake Owen – with Roper and Bandurak set to face off against New Southgate signing and GB teammate Will Calnan at the weekend.
Southgate, meanwhile, headed to fellow promoted side Cardiff & Met on the opening weekend, winning 4-1 courtesy of goals from another new signing Archie Foster, Kwan Browne, Daniel West and Calnan.
Foster and Calnan were joined by four other first-team additions over the summer, including former Holcombe player Sam Paterson who could face his former club this weekend.
Holcombe squad: Tim Guise-Brown, Louis Duprez, Sam Taylor, Greg Nolan, Phil Roper, Hayden Phillips, Rhodri Furlong, Jake Owen, Alex Pendle, Tom Russell, Brad Read, Rob Field, Barry Middleton, Mo Mea, Ollie Payne (GK), Nick Bandurak (C)
Image: Eva Gilbert