Southend & Benfleet 1st XI 2 – 0 Upminster 2nd XI
Well what a relief!!! The ladies 1’s finally had everyone available and put out the best performance of the season so far!!
After a 1-1 draw against Upminster 3s last week we knew we had to up the effort to beat their 2s this week, and what an effort it was. The first half saw our defence camped out on the half way line and the ladies put up a solid attack to secure the lead before half time from a short corner by Naomi Barker, a superb strike, straight through the keeper.
The second half was almost the same story, except Upminster increased the pressure and made our defence work a bit harder. The ladies were fantastic in holding strong and clearing out the D. The quality of the passing and the simple communication by the ladies kept us composed and managed to hold the League Leaders from scoring. Naomi scored another from a short corner to take the win convincingly 2-0.
It really was a superb game and the ladies played the best hockey of the season. Comments from spectators included….the ladies are playing at such a high level, they should certainly get promotion…. A well structured team and a well deserved win….. A solid performance and a pleasure to watch etc etc.
It was certainly the sort of game that lifts spirits and sets the tone for the remainder of the season. Fantastic play by all the ladies and lets keep it up!!!
Team: Lisa Ballard, Sandy Revell, Anne Johnson, Nicola Bryant, Steph Gregory, Lora Sharples, Kendal Colman, Adele Cole, Chloe Harris, Charlotte Rose, Sarah Watkinson, Naomi Barker.
Goal Scorer: Naomi Barker 2
Southend & Benfleet Ladies 2nd XI 5 – 0 Colchester 3rd XI
With everything to gain and nothing to loose, S&B ladies set out to start the game against Colchester with a renewed determination and a hunger for much needed goals after a run of recent losses, despite good performances. S&B took control of the game and after no time at all Leanne Neicho put home her first goal of the season (having slotted comfortably into the position of CH-attack) and continued to keep the Colchester defence on their toes for the rest of the game. Colchester (fielding only 10 men) tried to respond and at one point broke into the S&B D and even had a shot on goal but Kirsty Durban followed Leanne's lead and put home another goal just before half time.
S&B continued to dominate in the second half of the game and despite putting up a good battle (and causing S&B defence problems by planting a 'wandering' CF come LW come RW along the back line, initially throwing everyone off position) Colchester could not find a break and through excellent team work Kirsty went on to score a hattrick and Chantal Heringer sealed the 5-0 win after being in a great position to receive a rebounded shot on goal and push home the winning goal. Kristy Durban was voted man of the match.
Southend and Benfleet Ladies 3' 3 - 2 Upminster
The game started off with 10 player on pitch due to injury and players not being available. Verna then came on to give the opposing team someone else to mark. Upminster scored in the first half and we were playing around their game. We did play well Lisa Hockley kindly volunteered to go in goal and did a great job. The half time talk we decided to play our own instead of being drawn into their way of playing, it wasn't long after that we got our first goal, which Verna scored. The second and third goals both came from Emma and for the rest of the half we played a brilliant game. Upminster did score a second goal, but we hung to our lead.
Great game again ladies we are doing fantastic really proud!
Lisa Hockley, Verna Scroxton, Gail Swain, Kelly Frend, Emma Phillips, Amanda Ingram, Nicole Kelly, Christine Baker, Fiona Reagan, Alpha Thomas and Caitlin Meredith.
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