Southend and Benfleet 1st XI – 4 (Sarah Conway 3, Naomi Barker)
Old Loughtonians 3rd XI - 2

Southend and Benfleet 1s hosted Old Loughtonians 3 this week for a match that would certainly be one of their toughest games yet. The two teams always push each other to play better whenever they face each other and this week would prove to be no different. As play began both teams sprang into action but Old Loughts beat them onto the scoreboard with an early goal. S&B's attacking star Sarah Conway levelled the score line as she bagged her first goal of the game. Kirsty Edmunds ran riot this week and caused all sorts of problems for the visitors as time and again she slipped though their ranks to give S&B numerous attempts at goal. One such attempt saw Conway firing one passed the goalie giving S&B the lead. The lead was short lived though as Old Loughts levelled the score soon after. With Captain Rachel Jeffery, Lora Sharples and Sweeper Nina Dabbs working hand in hand, Old Loughts couldn’t even get another attempt at goal before half time and the score line remained 2-2 at the break.

The second half played much like the first, with neither team letting up. S&B Goalie Lisa Hawkins kept calm under pressure and with some great saves, and some cool headed defending from Jodie Linge, Old Loughts couldn’t find the back of the home sides goal and were kept at bay. Nicola Bryant acted as a conduit to fire the ball out quickly from one wing to the other with Caitlin Meredith sprinting up the right and Adele Cole up the left to keep the pressure on the visitors defence. Superb marking from Ashlie Colman kept Old Loughts' play-maker out the game whilst also producing countless counterattacks; but it was Conway who beat the goalie and took the score to 3-2 midway through the second half earning her a hat-trick for the third game this season. Some well-timed tackles from Hayley Middleton saw Old Loughts counterattacks cut short before S&B were awarded a short corner, and on the third rebound after the Old Loughts goalie managed to save two attempts, Naomi Barker slotted home S&B's fourth goal of the game. The final score S&B – 4, Old Loughts – 2. With such a great team performance player of the match was a tough choice this week, but in the end Captain Rachel Jeffery was awarded the honour as the win squeezes S&B up a place on the league table, above Old Loughts on goal difference.