Southend and Benfleet 1s – 6 (Hayley Middleton 1, Caitlin Meredith 1, Nicola Bryant 1, Naomi Barker 2, Kirsty Edmunds 1)
Havering 2s - 2

The first week back from the Christmas break saw Southend and Benfleet 1s face Havering 2s at home on a bright but chilly winter’s afternoon. It took both teams some time to get started as the ladies got to work running off the mince pies while play seemed to stay rooted in the midfield. It was well into the first half before Adele Cole and Claire King were able to force the ball through the Havering defence, and after some frantic scrambling in front of the goal, Hayley Middleton put S&B onto the scoreboard with an amazing reversed stick volley into the back of the goal. Afterwards the flood gate opened and a string of goals followed for S&B, the second goal of the game coming from Caitlin Meredith who knocked the ball into an open goal after Kirsty Edmunds wrong footed the goalie. The next two would both come from short corners despite S&B’s track recorded with the pesky set pieces; whilst a cool little slip to captain Nicola Bryant on the left post took the score to 3-0, an incredible shot from Naomi Barker beat the goalie with raw power. Havering were able to launch a few attacks of their own and found themselves awarded with several short corners but they were unable to beat the S&B goalie Lisa Hawkins and her fearless first runner Nicola Coleman before half time was called. The tactical advantage of having the sun behind them in the opening half proved unquestionably valuable with the score a comfortable 4-0 to S&B.

Switching ends after a quick break saw S&B adapting to the dazzling sun as Havering sought to turn the tables on their hosts; and despite some good defending from S&B it was in the opening few plays after the restart that Havering would claw their way onto the scoreboard as the ball trickled over the line. Even with Bex Utton blocking off Havering attacks with tactful clearances, Nina Dabbs swooping in and driving the ball away from the S&B goal, and Jodie Linge pushing the ball up the right wing S&B were unable to get the ball passed the Havering midfield who soon bagged themselves a second goal taking the score to 4-2. Havering were amped up but the prospect of a comeback with plenty of time to level the score. Their hopes were dashed as another short corner saw Naomi Barker repeat her powerful strike from the top of the D to beat the goalie for a second time and invigorating S&B. Truly amazing teamwork from Naomi Barker and Kirsty Edmunds up the right wing saw them beating the Havering defenders with impressive passing skills and speed to give S&B several more attempts at goal. But the final goal for S&B would come from yet another short corner as the ball was slipped to Kirsty Edmunds who fired it passed the Havering defenders and over the goal line.

Player of the match was awarded to Naomi Barker, not just for her amazing goals, the second of which coming at such a pivotal moment for S&B, but for also always managing to find the energy to come back and support the S&B defence when it’s needed most. A great restart to the season is just what S&B needed as next week will see S&B face Phoenix in a top of the table clash that could decide the league (no pressure).

Thanks Lora for the pics!