Men’s 1s pick up 3 points against local rivals

Havering went into their first of three double header weekends of the season looking to bounce back from an opening day defeat to Old Southendians.

Local rivals Upminster visited Campion on the Saturday and started the game brightly pinning Havering back in their own half. They were rewarded with the first penalty corner of the match but good running from Alex Defroand blocked the attempt at the top of the D. Soon after Havering won a corner of their own, Harry Andrews shot was saved by the away keeper but the ball fell to Paul Johnson on the right and his cross found Liam Appleyard who deflected the ball over the line for the first goal.

The scores remained the same until half time and the start of the second half produced little in the way of chances. Havering extended their lead when Verinder Channa dribbled through the Upminster Midfield and produced a fine pass from the left to the unmarked Chris Dunn in the D, Dunn used all of his experience to expertly finish with a first time strike into the corner of the goal.

Havering looked to add a third goal and were unlucky not to do so when Appleyard drove into the right of the D and pulled the ball back for Andrews whose first time shot produced an excellent save from the away keeper. In the final stages Upminster pressed hard to get back into the game but only had a penalty corner to show for it. Lee Bennett was yellow carded leaving Havering to defend without at keeper but more good running from the Havering defence prevented any shot into the empty net.