1st Half
A pulsating and exciting game kept the crowd enthralled from push back until the final whistle ending in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
A lightning start by Cambridge City Hockey Club saw Upminster Ladies 1s defend resolutely with GK Charlotte Triggs closing down the CCHC player resulting in the effort going wide.
As Upminster began to move the ball forward they found their passing intercepted and attacks broken up, from their own Short Corner Upminster found themselves under pressure in and around their own D with Faye Dixey & Rebbeca Pearson clearing the danger before any efforts at goal could be attempted.
With good passing between Riva Siggins & Amy Byrne Upminster looked to take the game to CCHC but they were kept out by the CCHC defence.
On 9 mins an Imogen Hodges passed down the line found Amy Byrne who swept the ball first time across the pitch finding Riva Siggins just inside the CCHC D who dispatched the ball first time into the goal giving the CCHC GK no time to react 1-0.
Finding themselves behind CCHC increased the pressure around the Upminster D but the defence remained resolute with Lauren Slater-Harvey & Faye Dixey looking to play the ball out of defence to avert the danger but the final passes were not always finding their intended target and when CCHC did gain a Short Corner this was saved by GK Triggs leg.
When Upminster passing did come together Jemma Creswell & Amy Byrne linked up well allowing Amy Byrne to close in on the CCHC GK who blocked her efforts on the line at the post.
With Aimee Banks, Megan Miller & Lauren Slater-Harvey working in tandem moving the ball towards the CCHC D Upminster continued to be denied by the CCHC Defence whilst Riva Siggins saw a through ball to her run away behind the goal line and with Ellen Kozlowska bringing the ball out of defence also finding Riva Siggins a further effort went wide.
With CCHC attacking in strength and moving the ball down the wings on regular occasions Upminster came under further pressure with GK Triggs called upon to block one effort, smoother another and save an effort from a short corner.
On 34 Mins a CCHC short corner was whipped in from the edge of the D and put away by the post to level the score at 1-1 at half time.
2nd Half
With the game evenly balanced, CCHC continued to apply early pressure but great defensive work by Ellen Kozlowska saw the danger cleared. A fine pass from Rebecca Pearson saw Riva Siggins clear and bearing down on the CCHC goal, her effort though was saved keeping the score at 1-1.
With the Upminster defence working hard CCHC were denied chances as first GK Triggs and then Lucy Falzon cleared the danger.
As Upminster continued to battle hard Lauren Slater-Harvey, Lucy Falzon and Megan Miller worked the ball out of defence and down the wings applying some pressure to the CCHC defence.
Gaining a Short Corner the ball was injected to Lauren Slater-Harvey on the edge of D, she fired it towards goal with Amy Byrne to make the score 2-1 in Upminsters favour.
CCHC continued to come forward in search of an equaliser packing the Upminster D with players, Upminster defended well with solid clearances out from the back by Ellen Kozlowska, Rebecca Pearson and GK Triggs saving a further Short Corner.
Working the ball forward Upminster continued to look for openings with Lucy Falzon, Imogen Hodges working hard in midfield to win and keep the ball with Amy Byrne & Jemma Cresswell just failing to link up in the final phase.
On 65 Mins CCHC moved the ball down the wing ,cutting across the area and from the edge of the D fired a fast and rising effort into the goal giving GK Triggs no chance 2-2.
Both Teams sensed one more goal would clinch the game Bella Boyle , Kerry Hodges & Riva Siggins continued to work and keep the ball going forward towards the CCHC area.
A CCHC break away saw the forward running in on goal with GK Triggs closing her down the forward put her effort wide.
One final effort saw a Scramble in the Upminster D with GK Triggs smoothing the threat and the defence clearing the ball away as the final whistle sounded
The watching crowd could relax and breathe again.
