Southend & Benfleet 1s - 0
Blackheath 1s - 1

It was with some trepidation that Southend & Benfleet ladies 1st XI travelled to Blackheath for their first match of the season in the East hockey league. Blackheath finished fifth in division 2SE last season so this match would be a good indicator of the standard to expect S&Bs nerves quickly evaporated as they played a great first half. Blackheath did not pose much of a problem for the Southend & Benfleet defence with goalkeeper Lisa Hawkins coolly dealing with a couple of shots. Southend & Benfleet were awarded two short corners which unfortunately they couldn’t convert. Georgia Durban played her first match for the side and proved her place by being awarded player of the match. Defender Jodie Linge went down injured just before half-time so Southend & Benfleet were down to bare 11 for the second half with Caitlin Meredith dropping into right back. Play was fairly even throughout the pitch but Blackheath got the all-important goal 10 minutes from full-time.