Men's 1's dominate IES at Campion

Havering hosted IES at Campion and were looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat away at Saffron Walden two weeks ago. Paul Dover, Alastair Leiws and Ollie and Josh Cipa all returned but they without top scorer Gaz Ingram, Marcus Hall and Mike Smith.

IES started the match brightly and kept early possession of the ball but Havering soon found their feet and began to dominate the game, the first goal of the game came early on when Paul Dovers hit from outside the D was deflected into the goal by an Ipswich defender. Havering continued to push and were awarded their first penalty corner of the match but Ollie Cipa's drag flick was blocked on route to goal. Havering made it 2-0 from their next corner as the ball was slipped right to Dover who passed the ball back across the D to Alex Jupp who slapped the ball into the goal for his first goal of the season.

Havering made it 3-0 within the opening fifteen minutes as a flowing team move involving Chris Dunn, Harry Andrews and Stuart Garnell picked out Dover at the far post who cut back inside the last defender and shot into the empty goal. IES picked themselves up and began to exert some pressure on the Havering defense winning a penalty corner, a low shot beat Joe Cole at his near post to give the away side a glimmer of hope. Both sides exchanged possession for the remainder of the half but failed to add to the score line going into the break.

The second half started in the same manner as the first had ended but Havering were awarded an early opportunity to end an IES fight back from the penalty spot, Ollie Cipa stepped up and flicked the ball into the goal but the flick was initially disallowed. After a brief chat the umpires awarded the goal as the ball had gone though a hole in the back of the net. From this point on Havering dominated the remainder of the match and played some of the best passing hockey seen at Campion in recent years, More flowing team goals came as Connor Poulain and Adam Lumbers both picked up a brace to make the score 8-1.

With time running out Lumbers had a golden opportunity to score his first ever 1st xl hat trick but after rounding the keeper he fired wide, in the dying minutes Lumbers was presented another opportunity as Garnell sent Paul Johnson down the right who cut the ball back to the penalty spot with Lumbers this time making no mistake capping off an excellent day for Havering.

Havering travel to bottom of the table Ely next Saturday and will look to keep their faint hopes of promotion alive with another three points.

MOTM- Connor Poulain DOTD-Joe Cole