Ladies 1's notch up deserved win vs Blackheath

Havering Ladies 2 Blackheath OE -0

After 2 consecutive weeks of cancelled games Havering Ladies were relieved to get back on the pitch, hosting Blackheath OE. It had been a tightly played match earlier in the season and proved to be so again. Havering looked a little rusty for the first ten minutes and took a while to settle. Fortunately the defence of Steph Prowse, Bethan Isherwood, Wendy Schofield, Louise Burgess and Sue Bartlett were working well together and keeper Sophie McCoy was on excellent form to deny Blackheath. Havering began to settle, Burgess made some driving runs from the back and Sue Harwood and Vicky Morrison began to cause problems in midfield. Morrison and Emma Isherwood combined well down the left wing and Emily Martin was on hand to tap in the rebound from Morrison's shot to give Havering the lead. Blackheath tried to get back in but again the defence and McCoy kept them out. Alex Semon was unlucky not to deflect in Morrison's penalty corner strike just before half time. Havering began the second half strongly but couldn't quite get the final ball right. Martin made some good runs down the right wing and was supported well by Lauren Earle and Katie Griggs. McCoy again pulled off some brilliant saves and Burgess and Schofield put some good attacking runs in. Bethan Isherwood drove well and put in an excellent cross but unfortunately there was no Havering forward on the far post. Emma Isherwood almost increased the lead with a well struck penalty corner strike that was saved on the line. Emily Gilkes-Tarsey also went close, her lifted shot forcing a good save from the Blackheath keeper. Havering secured the victory when Prowse's penalty corner strike went in in the far corner of the goal. With just 2 minutes to go Blackheath could not find a way back and Havering secured a first victory of the new year.