Havering 5 v 3 Southend & Benfleet

Havering Ladies got their first win of the season in an eight goal thriller against Southend and Benfleet at Campion. Havering began strongly and soon took the lead, Katie Griggs playing a long corner wide to Emma Isherwood who dribbled the ball into the circle and reverse passed it to Izzy Purdie. Purdie's shot was saved but Sue Harwood pounced on the rebound to score. The lead was very short lived as Southend and Benfleet quickly got the ball to the other end of the pitch and won a penalty corner which they converted. Havering were undaunted and kept applying pressure. Good interplay by Hollie Dawkins and Griggs set up Emily Martin whose goal bound strike was deflected in by a defender. Havering had a good run of play, Harwood, Griggs, Nic Earl and Martin all working hard in midfield and the defence of Bukki Olodo, Dawkins, Sam Cash and Alison Floyd quickly closing down potential attacks. Good work from Griggs and Emily Gilkes-Tarsey put Purdie through. Her shot was initially saved but Isherwood was on hand to force the ball over the line. A penalty corner put Havering 4-1 up at half time, Purdie deflecting in Gilkes-Tarsey's strike. Havering began the second half strongly, Martin and Purdie both seeing chances go just wide or saved but Southend and Benfleet managed to find a way through and a penalty corner strike was stopped on the line by a defender's leg and they converted the ensuing penalty strike. Havering continued to play their game and Harwood grabbed the fifth after good work by Martin and Purdie. Southend and Benfleet were not cowed and scored a third from a penalty corner. Havering hit a temporary blip and put themselves under pressure for the last ten minutes, including causing a second penalty stroke to be awarded. This time goalkeeper Sophie McCoy guessed right and made a fantastic and crucial save. Southend and Benfleet continued to press but Havering hung on for the win that takes them off the bottom of the table.