Southend & Benfleet 1st XI - 1 (Sarah Conway)
Upminster 2nd XI - 1

It was a top of the table clash at home on Saturday for Southend & Benfleet who played league leaders Upminster 2s. Playing without their top striker, Chloe Harris stepped up to the front line for Southend & Benfleet. In the fast half, play was mainly down S&B’s left hand side, keeping Rachel Jeffery and Adele Cole (player of the match) busy. Knowing that any chances had to be converted, the S&B side had specifically practised their penalty corner routines. Piling the pressure on a fast Upminster side, S&B were pleased to be awarded a penalty corner in the first quarter of the match. Nicola Bryant injected to Adele Cole, who slipped right to Kirsty Durban and it was Sarah Conway who buried the cross from the penalty spot. Elated to score, the S&B side knew there was still a long way to go. With the half time score remaining at 1-0, S&B knew they had to work hard for each other. Jodie Linge and keeper Lisa Hawkins had to make a number of sliding saves off the line. Midfielders Caitlin Meredith, Nicola Bryant and Kendall Colman worked tirelessly. In the last 15 minutes the Upminster side finally levelled the score from a penalty corner. S&B were going for the win but were happy to settle with a draw. It’s now very tight at the top of the premier division.