3 points for Mens 1's as they start their Prem A campaign

Havering played their first Premier A game since 2012 on Saturday and hit the ground running with a convincing win against Blueharts after gaining promotion from Premier B last season. Alex Defroand, Alex Simpson, and Marcus Hall have left the team that finished last season comfortably in top place while Connor Poulain and Lewis Smith have rejoined the club after short absences.

The game against Blueharts did not start the way the home team had planned it to go as Havering went 1 goal down within 2 minutes. Nik Males in goal parried the first effort from a contested short corner but was left powerless on the rebound. Havering heads could have gone down after this shaky start but the team showed the grit and character that saw them through the previous season undefeated and this led to a strong comeback. The home team controlled more and more of the possession and the rest of the half was pretty much played in Blueharts' half. Havering’s equalising goal came about 15 minutes into the half. Connor Poulain was quick to collect a rebound after a saved shot from open play, his ball back into the centre of the Dee was initially attacked by Ollie Cipa before Paul Dover directed it towards goal where a defender was left with no option but to stop the ball on the line with his feet. Glen Noller stepped up to convert the flick with aplomb. The home team continued to push forward and won a series of penalty corners that broke down. It was only a matter of time before one of these would be converted and it was Gaz Ingram who finally obliged with a powerful drag flick drilled hard and low.

Havering started the second half in control again but a green card that left them a man down could have compromised their strong position. Instead the team reorganised their setup quickly and it was during this period that the third goal was scored. Paul Dover managed to win yet another invaluable ball in midfield before feeding Gaz Ingram who did not miss when one on one with the keeper. Ollie Cipa was unfortunate not to extend the lead further shortly after as he hit the woodwork with a reverse hit from the top of the Dee after a good personal move. Blueharts had their best spell of the game at this stage as they threw all they had at Havering in a desperate attempt to salvage something out of the game. The home team’s backline, marshalled by man of the match Harry Jenkins, held firm and Blueharts' most limpid chance was saved excellently by Nik Males from point blank range. This more attacking approach by the visitors, however, ended up exposing more spaces for the Havering players to run into and it was no surprise that at the end of a fast turnover Glen Noller got his second goal of the game by smashing in a Stuart Garnell pass from close range.

At 4-1 the game was over. Havering celebrated the start of the new season with a win that will allow the team to build morale and confidence.