Southend and Benfleet 1s – 1 (Kirsty Edmunds)
Wapping 4s – 0

This week saw the rearranged match between Southend and Benfleet 1s and Wapping 4s, the original fixture being called off earlier this year due to a frozen pitch. The match began and Wapping were quick to force all the pressure on the home side, they had a few early short corners awarded, but some timely saves from S&B goalie Lisa Hawkins and calm clearances from Sweeper Jodie Linge kept S&Bs goal empty. Soon, Kirsty Edmunds would take the ball from deep within her own half to slide one passed the goalie and allow S&B to take an early lead and start turning the tables on the visitors. With some continued pressure S&B would slip another goal through only a split second after the whistle had sounded for a foul committed by Wapping, unfortunately preventing S&B from claiming the goal. In defence, Nicola Coleman cut off many of Wapping’s breakaway attacks with some well timed tackles, whilst Adele Cole stood out in centre midfield this week as she worked to switch the ball from one wing to the other to keep the Wapping defence on their toes. Caitlin Meredith place some well timed passes through to Ashlie Colman to feed the ball into the D and get even more attempts at goal, but it was not to be before half time was called and S&B still clung to a tenuous 1-0 lead.

As the second half began it was all to play for but S&B seemed to have the upper hand, Sarah Conway and Naomi Barker would work tirelessly to thread the ball up the pitch with quick passes and expertly executed dripping skills. Hayley Middleton would hassle the Wapping attackers throughout the second half to win the ball and drive up the pitch time and again. The second half was painstaking for S&B as constant pressure on the Wapping goal yielded little, strike after strike was saved by the visiting goalie or skimmed just wide of the post and S&B would again be denied a second goal as the whistle blew for another foul committed by Wapping in the D just before the ball crossed the line forcing S&B to make do without a safety goal. In the final minutes of the game it could have been all over for S&B as Wapping would be awarded a short corner on the final whistle. S&B waited with batted breaths as the entirety of the Wapping team would line up on the S&B boarder for a last ditch attempt at drawing level. The tension soon dissipated though as Stacey Chandler would swipe the ball clean from the D before Wapping could strike at goal. As the final whistle rung out the score remained S&B – 1, Wapping – 0. Player of the match was awarded to Captain Rachel Jeffery, as whilst play pinged from one end of the pitch to the other, so did she! Whether it was defending deep in the left corner or diving for an attempt at the Wapping goal, she was everywhere. And a special congratulations must be shared with S&Bs umpires, Ted and Stuart, who also managed to keep up throughout the game – and then umpire another game afterwards!