Champions!

Havering started this game on the front foot and managed to win a short corner within 10 seconds as Harry Andrews sprinted down the right hand flank before being stick tackled in the D. Ollie Cipa’s resulting drag flick was well saved by the Ipswich keeper. Havering kept control of proceedings after that and moved the ball around with ease even though they did not manage to score partly due to the away team managing to break down play in midfield before Havering players could get into more dangerous positions. Somewhat against the run of play, it was Ipswich that scored the first goal. A quickly taken free hit from the right was met by an Ipswich forward who managed to deflect it past Joe Shearer-Rust in goal and against the backboard. This was a hard pill for Havering to swallow and Ipswich finished the half by far the better team. To make things worse, Havering went down to 9 men as 2 of their players were shown yellow cards but the home team barricaded themselves in their own half and managed to prevent further damage. Half time could not have come at a better time as the Havering players could breathe and regroup from what was an extremely difficult end to the half.

Paul Johnson and Alastair Lewis’ team talk was spot on and the second half was all Havering from start to finish. Glen Noller’s equaliser came 15 minutes into the half from a short corner move straight off the training ground. The goal was a relief and was well celebrated. Celebrations got even better for the next three goals that came in quick succession. Paul Dover hit a ball into the D from the left to find Marcus Hall who deflected the ball into the net with a superb finish to make it 2-1. The third goal was a classy team goal that saw the ball move quickly from left to right. Marcus Hall found Harry Andrews on the T-spot who pulled the ball back across the D. The ball was met at the top of the D by Gaz Ingram who smashed an unstoppable hit into the top corner giving the goalkeeper no chance! Proceedings got even better for Havering a few minutes later courtesy of a fantastic Alex Simpson solo goal: Glen Noller picked the ball in midfield and flicked the ball over a high Ipswich defence line that had no chance in a foot race against Simpson who collected the ball, moved it around the Ipswich keeper and calmly hit the ball in goal with a reverse hit from a wide angle. This was game, set and match. Ipswich did try to react but their only concrete chance was hit wide by their forward under pressure from Harry Jenkins.

The final whistle was met by cheers from the Havering players and supporters as as the aim for the season, promotion to Premier A, was actually exceeded with a convincing league win. Havering travel to Norfolk for their last game of the season to face Harleston Magpies 2s with their undefeated record to defend and to make sure they finish the season on a high