Redbridge & Ilford Men’s 3’s vs HHC Men’s 4’s

Dalveer Sehmbi was unavailable still due to injury and with other players missing due to holidays, HHC weee forced to reshuffle their pack in terms of team selection.

The match started with Havering dominating possession and having plenty of chances, but failing to convert. Harry Pengelly and Eli Cook allowed plenty of width and Havering were a threat down the sides with crosses into the D.

R&I remained a threat on the counter attack, attacking down the left and working the ball to the byline. Keeper Paul Afteni was called into action to shut down at threatening cross from the byline with several R&I players breaking expectantly into the D.

Havering took the lead, midway through the first half, with a deft Martin John finish at the near post from a cross from the right.

Havering struggled to settle after the goal and play became a little scrappy. The half finished with a succession of short corners, including one after the half time whistle, which after a bit of a scramble was cleared out by Luke Phillips.

The second half restarted with Havering failing to heed the half time warnings and much of the second half saw Havering under pressure, with possession being given away too easily and passes into flat sticks. R&I were game and put a high level of pressure on the Havering defence.

Slowly, R&I began to tire and Havering weathered the pressure storm, turning the tide back in their favour.

The game was effectively won, 10 minutes from the end. James Willcocks, who has been asked to drop to midfield for this match and was Havering’s Man of the Match, picked the ball up in the final third, dribbled past two defenders and finished a superb run with a shot at the near post, made all the more impressive as he was off balance and was on the floor as the shot went in.

This took the wind out of R&I’s sails and Havering then saw the game out comfortably.

Havering remain at the top of the table with a healthy goal difference and move on to face a challenging Braintree side next Gameweek.

Final Score: R&I Men’s 3’s 0 HHC Men’s 4’s 2