Redbridge and Ilford Ladies – 2 Havering Ladies – 3

Havering Ladies travelled to Redbridge and Ilford.

Despite a delayed start (the home umpire having the wrong start time), Havering began strongly, driving down the wings and causing problems for the hosts. Emily Martin set Hollie Dawkins free and her well placed cross was met by Katie Griggs who fired into the goal to put Havering ahead. Redbridge began to get into the game and the Havering defence was under pressure for a while but keeper Sophie McCoy kept out shots and Bukki Olodo, Sam Cash, Wendy Schofield and Alison Floyd cleared away threats. Havering almost added a second several times but Redbridge scrambled the ball away. A penalty corner eventually gave Havering another goal. Charlotte Chamberlin's shot was neatly deflected in by Sue Harwood. Dawkins and Martin kept combining well down the wing and getting in decent crosses which the forwards unfortunately couldn't quite convert. Havering's third goal came when Emma Isherwood met Martin's cross and swept the ball in from a tight angle. Redbridge continued to battle and pulled one back just before half time. Havering began the second half strongly and saw a number of chances go wide or saved, Griggs, Isherwood, Martin and Emily Gilkes-Tarsey all keeping the home defence on their toes. A series of penalty corners were kept out but Havering kept the upper hand. Chamberlin, Harwood, Dawkins and Louise Burgess were controlling the midfield well. Cash and Olodo made some excellent last ditch goal line clearances as Redbridge tried hard to find a way back. They pulled another back through a penalty corner. The last five minutes saw Havering slightly on the back foot and some very determined defending, including a stupendous diving tackle from Burgess, kept Havering's lead. With just a minute to go Havering held possession and secured a win which takes them to sixth in the league table.