M1 secure a much needed win

Havering made an early start for their away game against Bourne Deeping as the the team met in a pub just outside Peterborough to watch the rugby World Cup final.

Still without the injured Paul Dover, Chris Dunn, Lewis Smith and Sunny Singh Havering were able to recall Alex Lee and Luke Joslin and welcomed back Connor Poulain to the club .

In what was a must win game even at this early point in the season Havering could not have wished for a worse start when with just minutes on the clock a Bourne forward turned the inside the D and played the ball to the back post for a deflection to open the scoring.

Despite the setback Havering were moving the ball well and unsettling the home defence thanks largely to the work rate of forwards Liam Keeling and Joslin. A number of penalty corners were won, notably Poulain going closest for an equaliser but the home keeper made an impressive stick save to his right.

The second half started with the same pattern as the first had ended with Havering having the majority of possession but unable to covert at the other end. Lee Bennett made a crucial save to keep the scores at 1-0 as he closed down a forward who had been set free in the D.

Havering finally got their reward from another penalty corner as Harry Andrews stepped up and flicked the ball to the keepers right to bring the scores level. With the momentum now firmly in their favour Havering searched for a winner and a good move down the left involving Adam Lumbers and Verinder Channa found Poulain who dribbled into the D and his pass found Adam Willett at the back post who was able to deflect the ball past the home keeper.

With about eight minutes left in the game Havering were able to see out the game thanks to Jack Barlow who made a crucial block from a penalty corner. Three much needed points for Havering who will host mid table Blueharts at Campion on Saturday.