Southend and Benfleet Ladies - 0 Havering Ladies - 2

Havering began strongly, Emily Gilkes-Tarsey and Emily Martin both going close, and kept up the pressure for much of the first half. Sue Harwood saw a penalty corner deflection go over the top of the goal and Alex Semon created several chances which didn't quite convert to goals. The break through came when Charlotte Chamberlin took a long corner quickly, drove into the attacking circle and hit a fierce strike which the keeper did well to keep out only to see the ball fall to Gilkes-Tarsey who placed it well to put Havering ahead. Southend and Benfleet had several quick players who were able to make driving runs but Harwood and Bukki Olodo had them covered and their runs rarely led to a goal chance. Havering's keeper, Sophie McCoy had just a handful of saves to make. Gilkes-Tarsey thought she had grabbed a second only to hear the whistle go for a penalty corner just as the ball crossed the line. Emma Isherwood hit the post on the ensuing corner. Havering came out strongly in the second half, putting Southend and Benfleet under immediate pressure. Throughout the half Wendy Schofield caused problems as she drove down the wings from defence. Martin also came through strongly and started to get decent crosses in but the host's goalkeeper proved difficult to beat. Havering then lost Chamberlin to injury but Semon stepped into the centre of midfield and took control of the game. Several penalty corner chances were saved but another brought the second goal. Isherwood's strike was saved but Harwood pounced on the rebound and popped the ball past the keeper. Southend and Benfleet tried to get something from the game but Olodo, Schofield, Harwood and Alison Floyd in defence kept their chances to a minimum. Havering's midfield of Semon, Martin and Katie Griggs kept control of the game and Gilkes-Tarsey and Gemma McKenzie-Cardy both saw chances saved. It was an important win for Havering that moves them up one place to fifth in the table.