1st Half
Upminster were quickly into their stride not letting Havering settle into the game with Megan Miller, Aimee Banks and Izzy Uzal pressing forward into the Havering D earning several short corners which the Havering defence and particularly the Havering GK were able to smother and clear.
Working the ball out of defence Havering ventured forward gaining their own short corner which was saved by GK Triggs and eventually cleared by the Upminster defence.
With Lucy Falzon constantly available in midfield linking the defence with attack, Upminster continued to apply pressure to the Havering D, Upminster gained two short corners in quick succession from which a Lucy Falzon effort was blocked, a Jemma Cresswell attempt went wide, whilst the Havering GK dealt with any efforts that found their way through the packed defensive area.
With play predominantly in the Havering half, Upminster kept probing , a long pass into the Havering D from Lauren Slater-Harvey earned a Short Corner from which Ellen Kozlowska struck and found the goal to make it 1-0 to Upminster on 30 Mins.
As expected in a derby no quarter was given with both sides strong in the challenge, a through ball from Izzy Uzal found Jemma Cresswell bearing in on goal but with the Havering GK forcing her out wide the chance was gone.
2nd Half
At the start of the 2nd Half a misplaced pass across the D was capitalized on by Kerry Hodges who slotted the ball past the on rushing GK making it 2-0 after just 35 seconds.
With Lauren Slater Harvey & Bella Boyle combining well Upminster continued to press forward but with play breaking down, Havering countered, gaining two Short Corner’s, finding space in a packed D they worked an opening and reduced the deficit 2-1 with 8 Mins of the 2nd Half gone.
Upminster continued to press forward looking to restore their two goal advantage, from a short Corner Lauren Slater Harvey’s effort at goal was stopped on the line with the Umpire awarding a Flick. Good anticipation by the Havering GK resulted in the flick being saved.
Upminster went in search of a further opportunity with Lucy Falzon, Megan Miller and Imogen Hodges prominent and busy around the Havering D whilst Rebecca Pearson, Ellen Kozlowska & Bella Boyle continued to send long ranging passes into the D looking to create panic, Havering’s defence though remained solid, although they conceded two further short corners, which were cleared.
With Upminster pressing forward Havering relied on breakaways to relieve the pressure, with interceptions from Ellen Kozlowska & Faye Dixey halting their advance.
Picking the ball up in Midfield Alexa Marston dribbled her way towards the Havering D resulting in a further short corner, from which a hard low strike from Bella Boyle hit the backboard making it 3-1 this though was disallowed by the Umpire.
Both teams continued to search for a further opportunity but both defences remained strong and the game ended 2-1 to Upminster.
