Ladies 1's keep up the pressure on the top spots in Essex Prem

Havering Ladies battled the elements at Crostyx 2s to come away with a resounding victory. Both captains decided to go ahead with the match despite the flooding pitch. The first ten minutes proved a scrappy affair with both teams struggling to judge the pace of the ball which kept slowing in the puddles but good defending from Leah Carter, Steph Prowse, Wendy Schofield and Sue Harwood meant keeper Tamara Bailey did not have to make a save. Havering missed a number of chances to take the lead through penalty corners but finally found a way through when Steph and Emma Isherwood exchanged passes at the top of the circle giving Steph the room to crack home a great strike. Havering then started to get into their stride and put passes together. Vicky Lynch soon added a second goal self-taking a free hit and driving into the circle to beat 2 defenders and fire the ball in. Hollie Dawkins,Lauren Earle and Chloe Miller all continually drove down the wings creating problems for the defence but no more goals came in the first half. Havering began the second half strongly, the rain ceasing and the pitch drying, and good passing between Catherine and Alex Semon brought Alex the third goal, slotting in Catherine's cross. Alex was then instrumental in the next goal. Steph and Vicky put the ball put wide to Alex and her diagonal cross was reached by Emma at full stretch to glance the ball past the keeper. Steph and Vicky again combined to get the ball out to Lauren who drove the ball into the circle and swept it in to score her first goal for the first team. The final goal did come from one of many penalty corner opportunities. Sue played the ball to Emma; she crossed it to Catherine who beat a defender to pass it back to Emma who then thumped it into the far corner of the goal for her second and Havering's sixth. Monica Dubb and Hollie were both unlucky not to score, the Crostyx keeper making some good saves. It was a good performance from the whole team and they will hope to carry on in similar form for the rest of the season.