Men's 1's come back empty handed from Cambridge

Havering travelled to Cambridge in a confident mood after recording victories in their last three matches but knew they were in for a tough test to the league’s second placed side. Alex Lee returned but Havering were without two defenders in Captain Harry Jenkins and Adam Lumbers. This forced a reshuffle in personnel with Paul Johnson joining Jack Barlow in the heart of defence.

Cambridge controlled the early stages of the match moving the ball at pace with the direct running of the home sides forwards causing the Havering defence early issues. It didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken when a Cambridge player wriggled free of several Havering defenders on the left before a lifted shot across goal deflected off Lewis Smith’s stick past a helpless Lee Bennett in the Havering goal. Havering felt slightly aggrieved by the award of the goal feeling the initial shot was off target.

As the half drew on Havering began to come into the game and tested the Cambridge keeper for the first time as Alex Lee setup Liam Appleyard whose shot was smothered from close range. However Havering were made to pay for wasting possession high in the oppositions half resulting in a quick counter attack down the right of the pitch and a slick Cambridge move made the score 2-0. Havering were unlucky not to get back in the game before half time as Harry Andrews strike from a Penalty Corner hit a defenders foot on the line but the infringement was missed and Cambridge were able to clear the ball to safety.

In the second half Havering played with greater confidence and despite still having to defend in numbers to thwart the dangerous Cambridge attack they were starting to create chances at the other end. After good build up play Havering were awarded their first Penalty Corner of the half and this time Aaron Cornish exchanged passes with Paul Dover and flicked the ball into the net to bring the scores back to 2-1. With the game opening up both sides exchanged Penalty Corners with Havering failing to hit the target with theirs and good defensive work from Alex Defroand and Lewis Smith prevented Cambridge extending their lead.

As the game drew to a close Havering had one final opportunity to level the scores from another Penalty corner, Andrews fired the ball across goal but agonizingly Johnson and Appleyard failed to get a touch as the ball went inches wide of the far post. Havering can take positives from the match putting in a good performance against the toughest side they have faced this season. They will host Bourne next week who will be in confident mood after picking up their first win of the season last time out.