Southend & Benfleet 1st XI: 3 (Karen Burgess, Kirsty Edmunds, Caitlin Meredith)
Southend 1st XI: 2

Southend & Benfleet celebrated their first win in a local derby against Southend. As Southend struggled to find their form in the first half, Southend & Benfleet, who are sponsored for third year running by RTH Staircases, took full advantage. Karen Burgess scored first for S&B from a penalty corner. The second goal came right from the defending half as the ball was played out to Kirsty Edmunds who sped past four Southend players to slot the ball past the keeper. The third goal came from a pass from Edmunds to Caitlin Meredith on the penalty spot who fired the ball into the goal. Southend & Benfleet were delighted to be three goals ahead but knew better than to right off their opponents. In the second half Southend came out with renewed energy and within the first 14 minutes they had scored twice from open play. Feeling vulnerable Southend & Benfleet went into lockdown with some great defending from Kerry Payton, Sandy Pass and Stacey Johnson. In the final seconds Southend were awarded a penalty corner. A nail-biting moment but goalkeeper Lisa Hawkins kept her cool and deftly saved the shot and Southend & Benfleet bagged some important points.