Southgate 2 Reading 4

(National Hockey League Play-offs)

SOUTHGATE failed to convert their second place finish in the National Hockey League into a place in the decisive play-off final despite two good performances over the weekend.>

Gate are shut out in play-offs

Cannock 1 Southgate 0

Southgate 2 Reading 4

(National Hockey League Play-offs)

SOUTHGATE failed to convert their second place finish in the National Hockey League into a place in the decisive play-off final despite two good performances over the weekend.

Reading was the setting for the inaugural National League play-offs, which as well as Southgate featured the home team and Canterbury and Cannock.

On Saturday Southgate dominated their clash with Cannock but couldn't turn their posession into goals. Calum Giles, Kwan Browne and Adrian Simons all went close but the game remained goalless until Cannock struck the killer blow with ten minutes left.

Giles and Waugh almost combined to produce an equaliser late on but Southgate were left to rue what might have been.

The play-off format meant that this was not the end of the road for Southgate's title hopes. If they could beat Reading, who had triumphed 8-2 over Canterbury in their first match, then they would meet Cannock again in the league final on May 3.

But Southgate found a formidable obstacle in Reading goalkeeper Mason. He produced a series of spectacular saves to deny the Southgate attack while Reading made no mistake in front of goal.

The home side took the lead after 15 minutes before Duncan Woods equalised for Gate but three Reading goals in a dozen minutes killed the game off.

A Williams corner brought the score back to 4-2 before the end but Southgate badly missed injured leading scorer Eiko Rott's presence in front of goal.

Southgate must regroup quickly because on Sunday they must face Cannock again, in the semi-final of the English Hockey Cup.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.