A National League Hockey Club, part of Holcombeians Sports Club

Men’s Premier Division Phase One Preview – matchday nine

By Lucas Ball

Holcombe are looking for a fourth straight Premier Division win as Kwan Browne’s side welcome Oxted to Kent on Saturday (18:30) as part of another double-header. 

Holcs have already secured their Top Six spot for Phase Two, picking up the required points with three Phase One games remaining after last week’s 6-0 drubbing of Richmond. 

In that match, the impressive Teague Marcano netted his second hat-trick in three matches to move to double figures for the season in just eight matches. Matt Ramshaw, who also netted, is close behind with seven goals. 

Alex Pendle scored his first of the league season having missed the first few matches with injury, while Samkelo Mvimbi also got his first Holcombe goal since his summer arrival. 

It was also a first clean sheet of the campaign for Holcombe and Ollie Payne, though just five have been kept in the entire top-flight after 48 matches – and all five of those have come from different teams. 

Oxted are currently sixth, five points behind Hampstead & Westminster and two above both Beeston and Cardiff & Met. 

With Old Georgians, Surbiton and Holcombe secure in the Top Six, Wimbledon and Hampstead look almost-certain to join them so it appears to be a three-way race for sixth between Oxted, Beeston and Cardiff with three matches to go in Phase One. 

Nick Giles’ side have taken four points from their last four – recovering from back-to-back losses against Cardiff & Met (2-3) and Old Georgians (2-9) to draw 3-3 with Wimbledon courtesy of two late goals and then beat Bowdon 4-1 at Caterham School last time out. 

The two sides met just once last season – at Holcombe Park – as Sam Taylor’s late penalty corner goal gave Holcs the three points in Phase One. 

Currently sitting just a point behind Surbiton, Browne’s side will be hoping for a slip-up from the Seals at Bowdon to lift them into second if they can beat Oxted in front of a home crowd.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, leaders Old Georgians face Hampstead & Westminster at Paddington Rec looking for a ninth win out of nine. A win for the hosts, though, would secure their Top Six spot. 

Wimbledon host Welsh side Cardiff & Met also looking to book their Top Six berth while Southgate host Richmond in what could be a crucial match at the bottom of the table. 

East Grinstead also host Beeston looking to keep their slim Top Six hopes alive, with the away side knowing a win could lift them into the top half with two games to go.  

Entry is free at Holcombe Park for both double-header matches (16:00 – Holcombe Women vs. Loughborough Students; 18:30 – Holcombe Men vs. Oxted) and both will also be streamed on YouTube.

Women’s 1s vs. Loughborough Students

Men’s 1s vs. Oxted

Image: Eva Gilbert