1st Half
Upminster began the game brightly with Lucy Falzon & Amiee Banks constantly bringing the ball forward searching for the forward movement of Riva Siggins who was keeping the defensive line of COP busy in their D.
Pressing forward early in the game Upminster were open to COP breakaway attacks with GK Triggs and Lauren Slater-Havery combining to save and clear an effort on goal.
Working themselves into the game COP pressed forward earning two S/Corner’s, from the 2nd an unchallenged shot was put away making it 1-0 to COP on 13 Mins.
Upminster pressed forward in search of the equaliser but with players forward in numbers no clear chance was created.
With misplaced passes creeping into Upminster’s game COP were able to press forward , constantly attacking out wide and driving into the D, on 18 Mins following missed tackles and a goal area scramble COP made it 2-0.
Attempting to get back in the game Falzon & Siggins began to work some openings whilst Drew Bailey with time and space out wide was able to drive into the COP area earning a Short Corner which came to nothing.
On 27 Mins a forceful and determined run by Bailey into the COP D saw her intelligent cross field pass cause panic from which the alert Kerry Hodges continued her rich vein of form finishing well as players converged upon her 1-2.
As Upminster continued to seek the equalizer Amy Byrne was able to recycle the ball in midfield and moving purposely forward weaved her way through the COP defence to send her shot goalwards which the COP GK saved with an outstretched leg.
As the half moved towards the end Upminster looked the more likely to score and following a sweeping move out of defence Imogen Hodges just failed to get on the end of a pass into the D as the COP GK closed her down.
2nd Half
With the game finally balanced Upminster needed to start the 2nd half with urgency but it was COP who forced the play , With GK Triggs making several early saves and Upminster relieving the pressure by sending long searching balls up field.
With Bella Boyle & Siggins working together a further COP attack was stopped at the expense of a Short Corner which was saved by GK Triggs.
With the defence under constant pressure and numbers forward COP made it 3-1 following a goalmouth scramble that Upminster failed to clear.
Now chasing the game Imogen Hodges, Siggins, Byrne and Banks worked tirelessly around the COP area looking to create openings but were unable to make any inroads into the D with COP able to clear away any danger, whilst a long range effort from Kerry Hodges went wide.
With quick movement and passing, COP looked to increase their advantage but the Upminster defence remained defiant with GK Triggs making an excellent save with her glove hand.
With time running out Falzon drove forward into the COP D earning a short corner which came to nothing.
