Southend and Benfleet first team travelled away to face Phoenix on the first match after the Christmas break. It was a cold and frosty afternoon when play begun and S&B had the upper hand with constant pressure on the home sides D it wasn’t long before Nicola Bryant smashed the ball to Sarah Conway who pinged it in passed the Phoenix goalie to give S&B an early lead. Phoenix turned the pressure on the seasiders who were caught unaware on a Phoenix counterattack which drew the teams level. Despite some brilliant runs at the Phoenix defence by Ashlie Colman and Kirsty Edmunds, S&B were unable to pull ahead before Phoenix found the back of the S&B goal again to take the score to 2-1 to Phoenix midway through the first half. S&B bolstered their defences for the remained of the first half, with Captain Rachel Jeffery and sweeper Jodie Linge opening communication up on defensive plays; S&B were determined not to concede another goal before half time. After some timely calls and impressive saves from the S&B goalie, Lisa Hawkins, half time was called and the score remained 2-1.

As play resumed for the second half, in a stunning second half performance Hayley Middleton cut off Phoenix’s pesky playmaker, and without that key player many of the home side’s attacks fell flat. Now, S&B had been awarded plenty of short corners throughout the game, but Phoenix had closed down every angle S&B could try, so when S&B were awarded yet another short corner, Naomi Barker stepped up and smashed the ball into the back of the goal with expert precision. For a long time play was very much trapped down the left wing, but Nicola Coleman and Adele Cole never let up or backed down as they fought of wave after wave of Phoenix attacks to win the ball and push it through for S&B to have their runs at goal. On the breaks, Caitlin Meredith had plenty of room on the right and stormed the ball through the Phoenix defence on more than one occasion, but as the match went on the pitch began to freeze and the umpires considered postponing the game, but with the agreement of both sides the match continued, and even with some last minute pressure from Phoenix on the S&B goal the score remained 2-2 on the final whistle.

A draw for S&B this week sees 3rd place Old Loughtonians 3s snatch their chance to catch up, the two teams sit in joint 2nd - equal on points and goal difference. Player of the match was awarded to Captain Rachel Jeffery.