Super 2s remain top with an impressive 10-0 win

Basildon Academy v Southend & Benfleet 2s

S&B 2’s fourth game of the season saw them face Basildon Academy, a team they were familiar with after facing them in a pre-season friendly. The league leaders gave starting debuts to youngsters Aimee Cole & Isobel Williams, & it would turn out to be a fantastic day for all concerned, as S&B ran out 10.0 winners.

S&B flew out of the starting blocks at lightning speed, & were 3.0 up within the first 10 minutes, with goals from Anna Winfield, Lesley Tonking, & a first of the season for Captain Kerry Payton. Jo Chesters put in a lovely cross for Winfield to convert her second, before Winfield then turned provider for Isobel Williams to grab a debut goal. Basildon’s midfield did cause some problems for S&B’s defence, with some lovely interplay & bursting runs forward, but it was broken down by the dominant midfield duo of Liz Fry & Anne Johnson, & anything that did come through was dealt with calmly by Lisa Hockley, Michelle Arnold, and Aimee Cole, who looked confident & assured at left back. S&B’s slick passing & breaks from defence to attack caused havoc for Basildon’s defence, & goal number 6 was Tonking’s second, & yet again, scorer turned provider, as Tonking set up Williams for her second of the half. S&B had chances to extend their lead, but were unable to beat the keeper, & went into half time with a commanding 7.0 lead.

There was no let-up in pressure as the second half began, but a revitalised Basildon keeper was not about to let S&B have it easy, with a multitude of saves from numerous shots. Winfield saw a trademark short corner smash off the inside of the post & fly agonisingly past the wrong side of the opposite post, but the forward did finally complete her hat-trick after yet another superb run & cross from Chesters allowed Winfield to slip the ball past the keeper to break the second half deadlock. And it was a game for first goals of the season, as some great work from Tonking to keep the ball in play allowed Chesters to get herself on the score sheet. Basildon’s defence never gave up though, absorbing continuous pressure superbly, the keeper pulling off yet more saves to keep S&B at bay. Williams was unlucky not to get goal number 3 on the board, but the pressure would finally tell, as some great build up play down the right allowed Wifield to slip the ball across to Tonking, who neatly placed the ball past the keeper to complete her hat-trick.

A fantastic result for the 2s, which keeps them top of the table & growing in confidence with every game. Player of the match went deservedly to Isobel, a fantastic debut. And a special mention must go to Aimee Cole, who was outstanding at left back & midfield, & Sam Kinnell, who added to last week’s impressive debut with another strong, confident performance. The futures looking bright for S&B.