Fareham face win or bust v Cardiff

​The dust will barely have settled on Fareham ladies’ championship celebrations at Henry Cort on Saturday lunchtime when the club’s men’s team begin a fight for their lives in a desperate England Hockey West Conference relegation showdown with Cardiff University.
Fareham manager Malcolm Davies has described it as “the most important match the club has faced in recent years” – with defeat certainly not on the team agenda.
Either Fareham or the Cardiff students will fill the second end of season relegation place alongside Cardiff & Met, with the outcome of Saturday’s match absolutely crucial.
After 16 rounds of matches, Fareham, with 15 points, enjoy a two-point advantage over Cardiff, who have leaked 30 more goals (than Fareham) – but that could turn around dramatically with a Welsh victory.
“A win will make us safe, but any other result means everything will hinge on the last round of matches, when we entertain Ashmoor and Cardiff host third placed Chichester,” Davies said. “We want to get things sorted on Saturday.”
Fareham picked a a handy point from a 2-2 draw with second placed Isca in Exeter – the evergreen James Seager giving Fareham the lead before Chris Towler and Jon Wright gave the Devonian a 2-1 lead.
Chris Davey’s second half equalizer earned Fareham a precious point.
Fareham will need to keep their discipline – and all 11 players on the pitch – against Cardiff.  They’ve conceded far too many yellow cards this season, culminating in skipper George Davey being suspended for the Isca trip.
Cardiff will arrive at Henry Cort briming with confidence after scoring 12 goals in their last three unbeaten games, beating Cardiff & Met 3-2 and Ashmoor 5-1 either side of a 4-4 draw with Plymouth Marjon.
Fareham will have the support of their jubilant ladies team who will receive the South Central Women’s League trophy from Mike Ford, the Mayor of Fareham, before they push back against Southampton at 11.45.
They were three up inside eight minutes against Amersham & Chalfont and ran out 6-1 winners, with Rebecca Reavell (2), Gracie Coleman, Alicia Caillard, Holly Levine and Sarah Johns on target.