Southend and Benfleet 1s – 2 (Ashlie Colman 1, Sarah Conway 1)
Havering – 3

This week saw a top of the table clash as Southend and Benfleet 1s hosted Havering. Both teams were raring to go but push back was delayed as the pitch was waterlogged by the heavy rainfall that morning, with some quick thinking from resident S&B umpire Stuart Gran, his expert broom skills cleared the pitch of the puddles in no time and the game begun. S&B had some early pressure on the visitors defence but it wasn’t long before Havering turned around and came straight back at their hosts with a ferocity that only the partnership of S&B’s defensive stars Hayley Middleton and sweeper Jodie Linge could stop. Play pinged from one end of the pitch to the other when midway through the first half Caitlin Meredith stepped up to take a long corner, a great shout from attacker Sarah Conway and she slipped the ball into the D to find Ashlie Colman who beat the goalie and gave S&B a hard won 1-0 lead. Things got heated and after a few wayward sticks and some fraught words later S&B’s goal scorer Colman was carded along with the Havering captain, despite this S&B defended the lead until the very end of the half when a long series of short corners; though expertly defended by first runner, captain Rachel Jeffery and even with some brilliant saves by goalie Lisa Hawkins, Havering scored seconds before the whistle, making the score 1-1 at the break.

When play resumed Kirsty Edmunds was soon sprinting up the pitch, in her usual spectacular fashion, deep into the Havering D, passing the ball back across goal, where after a short skirmish, Sarah Conway smashed her way onto the scoreboard to give S&B the lead once more. The Havering captain was once again called up for shoulder barging and given a second green card. The seasiders had the run of the match for a time but Havering proved they weren’t going to give up the fight for the top of the Premier League so easily and rallied together to turn the tables on the hosts. Adele Cole and Nicola Coleman fought off the constant assaults from Havering as they tried to force their way down the left wing but Havering’s unusual line-up caught S&B off guard and Havering managed to level the score again from a short corner. With some great positioning on hit outs and free hits Nicola Bryant would funnel the ball up to a waiting Naomi Barker who’d push the ball up the pitch with her fellow forwards to try for that all important winning goal. This time however, luck was on the visitors side and after a Havering breakaway late into the second half S&B were stunned as a cracking shot pushed Havering in front three goals to two before the final whistle.

Player of the match was awarded to Jodie Linge for her outstanding performance, as her tenacity and talent stood out this week among the amazing S&B defensive line. S&B sit second in the Premier League for the moment as they look towards next week where they play 4th place Wapping 3s away.