Holcombe are looking to return to winning ways at bottom side Sutton Coldfield in the Premier Division on Saturday afternoon.

After four straight defeats, Holcs are looking to return to the defensive solidity that saw them win their first two matches and will hope to do just that against a team that have conceded 31 goals in six matches and scored six, the same amount as Holcombe. 

Brad Read’s side put in a strong performance against leaders Reading last weekend and were unlucky to come away with nothing before losing to East Grinstead by the odd goal on Sunday afternoon as part of the double-header weekend. 

Olivia Shannon remains one of the top scorers in the league with five goals so far and will be hoping to continue her early season form in the Midlands. 

Sutton Coldfield, promoted alongside Holcombe last season, have had a tough start to life in the top-flight, conceding five or more in four of their six matches – to University of Birmingham, Loughborough Students, Reading and University of Nottingham. 

Against Bowdon last time out, it was a 2-0 defeat ahead of two home matches in a row – today’s followed by Clifton Robinsons, also early-season strugglers, next week. 

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, leaders Reading travel to Wimbledon (14:30) looking to keep up their unbeaten run (five wins, one draw) while second-placed Hampstead & Westminster are in the South West to take on Clifton Robinsons, who sit second-bottom on five points. 

With just three points separating seventh and 11th, the table could see a lot of movement over the weekend – there are also just three points between second and fifth.

East Grinstead, third, play host to Bowdon, who are sixth, while champions Surbiton – fourth – are also at home against Loughborough Students, who sit just above the relegation zone currently in 10th. 

The other match sees two university sides battle for points as Nottingham host Birmingham – the home side are just two points and two places below their visitors so will be hoping to leapfrog them with a win. 

Image courtesy of Eva Gilbert