Havering Ladies – 5 Bromley and Beckenham – 3

Hosting Bromley and Beckenham Ladies 2s at Campion, Havering started strongly, Gilkes-Tarsey and Charlotte Chamberlin both forcing early saves from an excellent visiting goalkeeper. A great driving run from Emily Martin brought about the first goal as she ran the ball into the attacking circle and set up Katie Griggs for a shot which Gilkes-Tarsey forced over the line. Havering didn't hold on to their lead for long, as a lapse in communication amongst the defence allowed an opposition forward to drive into the circle and score from a narrow angle. Havering battled back, Isherwood forcing a foul and quickly taking the ensuing free hit, passing to Griggs whose shot was saved but Isherwood put away the rebound. The play was more balanced for the rest of the first half with Havering's keeper, Sophie McCoy, making some good saves and the defence of Bukki Olodo, Wendy Schofield, Sam Cash and Nic Earle working well to keep attacks to the minimum. Although Havering started the second half strongly it was Bromley and Beckenham who scored to equalise, a cross beating the defence to be tapped in at the far post. Havering then kept out several penalty corners before taking hold of the game again. With Chamberlin, Martin and Sue Harwood working hard in midfield they began to get the ball through to the forward line of Gilkes-Tarsey, Isherwood, Griggs and Rhiannon Goulden. Gilkes-Tarsey almost had a second as she pounced on a loose ball but the whistle went just before the ball crossed the line to give a penalty corner. A mazy run from Harwood saw her wriggle through several defenders and then get her shot away with Gilkes-Tarsey tapping in the ball as it came loose from the keeper's save. Gilkes-Tarsey's hat trick came soon after, Chamberlin taking a long corner, passing to Isherwood who struck the ball to the far post where Gilkes-Tarsey stretched out to knock the ball under the keeper's foot and over the line. Isherwood added the fifth, receiving a sideline pass and bouncing through several tackles before hitting a spectacular reverse hit into the gap between the oncoming keeper and the near post. Bromley and Beckenham fought back and scored from a penalty corner, despite an excellent initial saving tackle by Cash but there was not enough time for them to pull any more back. Havering move up one more space in the league and will travel to Brentwood on Saturday.