Brentwood 2s – 2
Southend and Benfleet 1s – 4 (Sarah Conway 1, Kirsty Edmunds 1, Ashlie Colman 1, Naomi Barker)

Southend and Benfleet 1s travelled away this week to face Brentwood 2s. With the two teams previous meeting ending in a momentous 9-1 victory for S&B, Brentwood upped their game this time around and gave S&B a run for their money. To start S&B were confident and had several strong assaults on the home sides goal, but they were kept out by the keeper. It wasn’t long into the game when Brentwood drew first blood, after several amazing saves from the S&B goalie, Lisa Hawkins, the ball fell to the Brentwood attacker one too many times and they went 1-0 up. This spurred S&B into action though and with Kirsty Edmunds running rings around the home sides defence, it wasn’t long before they gave up a short corner for S&B. Sarah Conway struck hard and fast, and after an initial save, she capitalised on a second attempt when the ball rebounded off a defenders stick and sailed through the air and over the goalies head. S&Bs defence had plenty of work to do this week with Jodie Linge constantly communicating with her fellow defenders, S&B closed the gates on the home sides offensive for the rest of the first half. Edmunds would put herself on the scoreboard this week as she took on the goalie one on one to slip it passed to give S&B a tenuous 2-1 lead. Ashlie Colman wasn’t going to be out done, and before the end of the first half she snuck one passed the Brentwood goalie as well, making it 3-1 at the break.

In the second half S&B sought to increase the score line but found their attempts thwarted time and again by the Brentwood defence. Brentwood were quick on the breakaways and whilst Hawkins performed yet more amazing saves, Brentwood were awarded a penalty flick which Brentwood powered home to make the score 3-2. S&B soon retaliated though and with Nicola Bryant and Adele Cole breaking up the Brentwood defence on hit outs, S&B attackers soon got the ball and charged for goal. After a few attempts, S&B were awarded a short corner once again and Naomi Barker ensured she wasn’t left of the score sheet as the ball found its way passed the goalie for a 4th time that match. After many more attempts from both teams the final score remained 4-2 to S&B, with all of the S&B forwards finding the back of the goal this week. Player of the match was more deservedly awarded to goalie Lisa Hawkins for an outstanding performance that kept S&B second in the league; as both Old Loughtonians 3s and S&B 1s remain on equal goal difference, as both teams add two to their total.