Southend and Benfleet 1s – 2 (Naomi Barker 1, Felicity ? 1)
Waltham Forest 1s – 1
Southend and Benfleet 1s last game of the season saw them host Waltham Forest 1s at home on a bright and warm April afternoon. As play began both teams were testing the waters and possession was evenly shared, but it wasn’t long before S&B’s Kirsty Edmunds would make several of her trademark runs with the ball deep into Waltham Forest’s half and put pressure on the visitors defence. The visitors would launch their own counter attacks but they were quickly cut off by Nina Dabbs and Kendal Coleman who’d drive the ball back into the visitors half. There were many short corners awarded to both teams but it was S&B’s Naomi Barker that would break the stalemate with a powerful strike from the top of the D that crashed into the back of the goal giving S&B that important 1-0 lead. Caitlin Meredith stepped into left defence this week and would intercept many of the opposition’s passes to prevent their attempts to draw level before half time.

After the break Waltham Forest were keen to get back into the game and a lull in S&B’s ferocity as play resumed meant that the visitors could put pressure on the home side. Throughout the game Waltham Forest were awarded plenty of short corners but they were all seen off by the experienced S&B goalie Lisa Hawkins, however after some consistent pressure from the visitors they were able to strike the ball hard and fast to find the corner of the S&B goal and draw level. Not perturbed S&B fought back, Jodie Linge was on form today with some precise free hits that would find a waiting Sarah Conway more often than not, who’d turn and launch numerous assaults on Waltham Forest’s defence, alongside the expert dribbling skills from Chloe Harris and decisive passing from Nicola Bryant S&B would take back control. Two of the club young up and comers, Georgia ?? and Felicity ‘Flick’ Galbally would get in on the action as well and were seen on several occasions driving the ball up the right wing and into the D, but the final and winning goal of the game would come when Flick positioned herself perfectly on the left post and pounce on a rebound from the Waltham Forest goalie pushing S&B into the lead once more. S&B fought hard till the very end to keep the tenuous lead until the final whistle. Player of the match was awarded to Caitlin Meredith for playing out of position this week to reinforce the defensive line with some well placed tackles and keen interceptions.