Mens1's hit 6 against local rivals Upminster

Upminster Men - 1 Havering Men - 6
The venue was Coopers' Coborn School and the time was 13.00 on Saturday 5th October 2013. This was to be the first time Upminster and Havering 1st teams would play in a competitve league match for in excess of fifteen years.

For the first time this season Havering had a full strength squad to choose from bringing in Chris Dunn and Connor Poulain as well as Joe Cole replacing Nik Males in goal to make his first team debut for the club.

Havering took to the pitch knowing that this game meant a little bit more than just three points and was an ideal opportunity to kick start their season. However a feature of recent weeks was a lack of composure on the ball and in the early exchanges Havering struggled to retain possession.

Gaz Ingram struck the ball wide of the post from the first short corner of the match but it was Upminster who had come out of the blocks the hardest and had the better of the opening fifteen minutes. It was only a matter of time before the first goal came and it went to the home side, a good run down the right resulted in the Havering backline being stretched and a pull back from the baseline resulted in an unmarked player firing home from the penalty spot.

This appeared to kick Havering into life as they began to press the Upminster midfield and defence into making mistakes, the work rate had all of a sudden become epic from Havering's rotating 14 man squad with Michael Hinton and Stuart Garnell leading the charge. Eventually the pressure told with the Havering midfield hunting down the ball releasing Ingram on the right who crossed for Garnell, with still a fair bit to do and his back to goal he fired off a reverse stick shot that went under the keeper to bring the scores level.

The next five minutes were crucial and it was a period that ultimately won the game for Havering. Hinton again won the ball in midfield and played the ball forward to Ingram outside the d, continuing his run Ingram's reverse pass sent him through one on one with the keeper and a cool finish sent the Havering players and spectators into a frenzy.

Sensing the game was there to be taken Havering continued to push forward and soon added another goal again Ingram was the provider and it was Garnell that finished with another reverse stick effort. As half time approached Hinton was given a yellow card for a late tackle forcing Havering to defend deep, good work from Poulain, Dunn and Marcus Hall kept Umpinster out but Havering could not prevent them winning a penalty corner, Paul Johnson was out fast to the top and managed to intercept an attempt at a slip move. Half time 1-3

The next goal was always going to be crucial and in the early stages of the second half Ollie Cipa was sent through on goal, with the keeper beaten his goal bound shot was saved in the line by the body of an Upminster defender. Ingram stepped up and despatched the resulting penalty flick.

Havering began to play a game of keep ball with Adam Lumbers, Johnson, Harry Andrews and captain Jack Barlow dictating the play from the back. Mike Smith was harshly judged to have pushed an opposition player and awarded a yellow card. Despite this Havering broke quickly down the right and found Poulaun at the tip of the d, an inch perfect pass found Cipa on the back post to score the easiest of tap ins against his old club.

Upminster then had two players yellow carded for dissent and Havering finished off the game with a sixth goal, Cipa teed up Dunn on the left of the d who passed across goal for Ingram who flicked the ball into the empty net. The score could have been added to in the final minutes as some great open play chances went begging as well as two penalty corners. Full time 1-6.

An excellent performance and well deserved win for a Havering side who are still yet to reach top gear. In was a much needed victory.

A huge thank you to all those who came down to support.

MOTM - STUART GARNELL DOTD - JACK BARLOW.

Havering host Old Southendians at Campion next saturday.