Southend & Benfleet 1st XI - 2 (Ashlie Colman, Kirsty Durban)
Southend 1st XI - 1

Southend & Benfleet began 2016 with a derby win against Southend. Both teams started strongly with Southend & Benfleet just getting the upper hand. Caitlin Meredith, Chloe Harris and Nicola Bryant linked well together to get the ball through to the forward line. However it wasn’t until the 25th minute that player of the match Kendall Colman seized an opportunity to call for a pass from captain Kirsty Durban. Colman dribbled the ball down the right hand side, strongly attacking the D before finally finding sister Ashlie Colman who scored for Southend & Benfleet. In the second half, Southend & Benfleet got off to a great start and a penalty flick was awarded after a shot from Sarah Conway was saved by a Southend defender’s foot. Kirsty Durban coolly scored into the bottom left hand corner. Southend retaliated shortly after with a goal. However the Southend & Benfleet defence of Rachel Jeffery, Jodie Linge, Kendall Colman, Nina Dabbs and goalkeeper Lisa Hawkins kept themselves well organised and managed to stave off any attacks from Southend, with a final score of 2-1. It was an exciting weekend of matches leaving Southend & Benfleet just one point behind Upminster at the top of the league.