Upminster hold their nerve to take the Points.
Upminster began brightly keeping play around the Dereham area with Drew Bailey (Joint DOM) & Jemma Creswell prominent whilst Dereham’s long downfield passes allowed their eager forwards to chase and test the concentration of the Upminster defence, on one occasion having been forced out wide a speculative goalbound effort hit the bar.
With Bailey, Riva Siggins (POM) and Issey Uzal overturning possession Siggins & Uzal created their own opportunities to test the Dereham Keeper who was alert to clear.
Both sides looked to assert control with possession often being overturned although Upminster’s Freya Long battled hard up front looking to stretch the Dereham defence, it was Dereham who forced the first S/Corner, a straight strike taking a wicked deflection of a defender’s foot past Keeper Charlotte Triggs making it 0-1 on 15 Mins.
Although Alex Marston & Siggins worked hard to keep play around the Dereham D both teams continually exchanged possession with no clear opportunity presenting itself as defences remained on top.
On 30 Mins a quick thinking Lucy Falzon sent a free hit into the Dereham D catching the Dereham defence cold, Uzal reacting quickest to turning the ball goalwards past the Keeper 1-1.
Pressing forward Dereham forced Upminster to defend deep and being unable to move the ball forward Upminster conceded 3 S/Corners in quick succession, which the defensive unit were able to deal with.
When possession was retained Bailey & Megan Miller combined well to create an opportunity with the Dereham Keeper unable to clear, the loose ball fell to Kerry Hodges who finished calmly on 42 Mins making it 2-1.
Dereham continued their ploy of long passes down field causing Upminster problems but with Creswell making a timely tackle and Triggs firstly saving at a forwards feet and then with the defensive line breached a stick clearance as the forward looked to go around her Upminster kept their lead.
As the game became more open Upminster’s Long, Bailey, Uzal & Siggins looked to make inroads with Siggins & Bailey testing the Keeper who saved at their feet., whilst Dereham looked to exploit the high press and gaps behind. Pressing forward in numbers Dereham ran unchallenged from deep into the D whilst the goal bound effort was saved the ball spun up and over Triggs to be forced over the line making it 2-2 on 57 Mins.
With the game finally balanced play was end to end, Falzon (Joint DOM) seized the opportunity to take the ball forward and upon entering the D hit a fierce shot through the defensive numbers into the far corner 3-2.
As Dereham pushed forward Upminster overturned play with Miller and Marston combining to send Long clear , looking to take the ball around the Keeper Long was forced wide with the loose ball falling to Cresswell to dispatch into the empty goal 4-2 on 65 Mins.
Before time was up Dereham press forward was rewarded with a final S/Corner with numbers in the D a deflected shot initially saved by Triggs lopped up high and was bundled in making the final score 4-3.
