Havering 4's vs Redbridge and Ilford 3's

Havering hosted Redbridge at Campion for a cold 4pm pushback. The week’s weather had been treacherous and for a while the game had been considered at risk due to icy conditions. Fortunately whilst the wind was cold, there was little ground frost and the game was able to go ahead.

Following a loss in the previous game to Thurrock, Havering required a win to keep up with the top two in the division and remain in the promotion hunt.

The first half ended goalless after a half which Havering edged, although a failure to take their chances, particularly from the four Penalty Corners awarded meant the second half was going to be finely balanced.

Havering took the lead early in the second half, with James Walker scoring from a scramble in the D following good work from Alex Bilby down the right and some good defensive footwork from the unfortunate Redbridge keeper was failed to be cleared allowing Walker to pounce.

Havering seemed in control until an unfortunate error from a Havering defender playing the ball straight out over the goal line saw Redbridge awarded a penalty corner. The PC itself consisted of a good set piece, afforded some fortune with the finish, a dipping slap bouncing the stick of the advancing post man, which then struck the kicker of the unsighted keeper and looping into the goal on the near side.

Havering reassumed control, but pressure was not leading to any goals and Havering must have feared the game ending in a draw, however, 5 minutes from the end, Walker struck his second of the match and what turned out to be the winner, with a fine finish from an acute angle that somehow snuck in at the near post.

The final whistle blew and Havering ran out winners at 2-1. League leaders Chelmsford’s defeat at Braintree the same afternoon made this win all the more important, as Havering clawed back ground with games in hand in the promotion battle.