The Magnificent 7 make it to East Regionals!

On Sunday 20th March, Upminster U12 Girls took part in the In2Hockey Essex County Club Finals at Redbridge & Ilford Hockey Club. It wasn’t the best of starts as unfortunately a late illness to the U’s regular goalkeeper threw the U’s game plan right up in the air! But up stepped Bethan Hodges who padded up to take her position between the posts. This left the U’s with a bare 7 but won their first match against Colchester 1-0 with a late goal. Next up were Blue Hornets who went 2 goals ahead, Upminster rallied and pulled a late goal back through Freya Killilea but couldn’t force the equaliser. The last 2 Pool A games, Upminster beat Chelmsford 2-0 and Old Loughtonians ‘B’ 8-0 with some great team goals from Lucy Rolfe and Maddie Roberts. Upminster went through as Pool A runners up to play in the final Pool round matches between Old Loughtonians ‘A’, Blue Hornets & Crostyx. First up were Old Loughts ‘A’ and with some brilliant defending from Jess Collier & Amy Watson the match finished all square at 0-0. In a rematch of the earlier Pool match the U’s went up against Blue Hornets looking for revenge. In another tight match and some great goalkeeping from Bethan Hodges the game ended goalless. In their last game of the day against Crostyx, Upminster took an early lead through Isabel Collett. Upminster pushed forward in search for further goals but good defending from Crostyx ensured Upminster ended the game with a 1-0 win. With just 1 defeat from 7 games, Upminster just missed out on top spot via goal difference but with limited resources it was a fantastic team effort. Upminster now go with Old Loughts ‘A’ to represent Essex at the East Regional finals at Harleston Magpies on Sunday April 17th.