"Fantastic start" to season for new captain Nina Dabbs

Report by Adele Cole

Southend & Benfleet travelled to Brentwood for the first match of the season in East division 2SE. New captain Nina Dabbs spearheaded the away side's defence alongside Adèle Cole, Caitlin Meredith and Kendall Colman. The match was very even until a penalty corner provided an opportunity for S & B's Kirsty Edmunds to score by deflecting a strike by Sarah Conway. The celebrations for Conway were short-lived as she was shortly after hospitalised with a head injury. Youngsters Felicity Galbally and Georgia Durban played the remainder of the match as S&B struggled on in the heat with no substitutes. Sisters Ashlie Bolton and Colman kept Brentwood at bay alongside a sterling performance from player of the match Meredith. Final score 1-0. Captain Dabbs "Perfect game, fantastic start to the season'.