Havering 2s vs Saffron Waldon 3s

Following last week’s away win at Old Loughtonian’s, Havering welcomed Saffron Walden, looking to build on the previous performance and consolidate a mid-table position.

The first half was very evenly balanced but finished goalless, with Walden coming closest to a goal but the goalkeeper getting down distracted the Walden striker who seemed intent on lifting the ball but miscued and put the ball toward the post and it was deflected out of play off the keeper’s arm.

In the second half half, Havering started brightly and it felt the momentum of the game would lead to a Havering goal. This duly arrived about 10 minutes in, Luke Clarke with a fine finish from some inventive play. It seemed set for Havering to press the advantage and go for a second goal, but inexplicably it seemed the collective were happy to sit back on the one goal advantage.

This invited pressure and Walden gained a fortunate equaliser after a botched injection at a penalty corner led to a fortuitous angle opening up to find an unmarked man in the D, who managed to force a shot past the post man for Havering.

This appeared to shake the Havering confidence and Walden took the lead again somewhat fortuitously following a sideline ball pass from full to centre-back that was short, allowing the forward to press the play. The ball looped up on the spin and it was this resulted in the goal as the turning ball moved away from the keeper and straight back to the Walden player who dispatched the goal.

Heads dropped and Walden scored two more quick fire goals for a disappointing final result.

Havering will look to regroup next week.

HHC 2’s 1 - Saffron Waldon 3’s 4