Ladies 1's promotion confirmed......at last!

Havering Ladies clinched the Essex Premier League title and promotion to the East Leagues with an emphatic 11-0 win away at Brentwood 2s. Despite many pre-match nerves Havering quickly settled into the game and within 5 minutes had taken the lead. Emma Isherwood lifting the ball down the line to Emily Gilkes-Tarsey who put in a cross which Anna Webb got onto. Her initial shot was saved but she made sure with the rebound. A second came quickly after, Catherine Semon putting away a penalty corner, dribbling the rebounded save round the defender to score. Havering then saw a few chances go begging, Webb and Semon both going close. The third came again from a penalty corner; this time Semon slipped the ball to Gilkes-Tarsey who put the ball into the corner of the goal. Semon added a fourth from a penalty corner, making no mistakes with a well placed strike. Just before half-time Gilkes-Tarsey grabbed her second meeting Rhiannon Goulden's cross to sweep the ball in. Havering were determined not to relax in their efforts in the second half and began strongly, dominating from midfield. Brentwood were unable to create any chances, Wendy Schofield, Steph Prowse, Monica Dubb and Sue Harwood quickly breaking down any attempts leaving keeper Sophie McCoy having to make very few saves. A penalty corner gave Semon her hat-trick, firing in from the top of the circle. Soon after Goulden was released by Prowse's ball and again made a strong run down the wing, Isherwood meeting the cross, seeing her initial shot saved but then taking the ball wide of the keeper to slot home from a tight angle. Webb added another after Harwood's ball in led to a goalmouth scramble where either Webb or Isherwood could have scored, Webb grabbing the final touch. Webb then sealed her hat-trick latching on to Lauren Earle's cross and sliding the ball firmly past the keeper. Earle was instrumental in the next goal, taking a quick sideline hit to find Chris Noller in space who thumped the ball in. The final goal came when Amelia Acreman put the ball across the goal where Goulden was waiting and reverse swept the ball in. It was a very convincing performance and reflective of how hard the team has worked all season.