2s beat Braintree in top table clash

Southend & Benfleet 2nd XI - 6 (Anna Winfield - 3, Naomi Barker - 2, Felicity Galbally - 1)
Braintree 2nd XI - 2

It was a huge match this Saturday for S&B who hosted 3rd place Braintree. The game was always going to be tough and, from the outset, the match was of a very high level. S&B took control of the game and pressed hard on the Braintree defence, who were very hard to break, but eventually won a short corner which Naomi Barker converted with a convincing strike from the top of the D. Braintree were not deterred and continued to put S&B's midfield under a lot of pressure and in turn the S&B defence and in quick turn managed to slip a goal back to equal the scoreline. Anna Winfield then took control of the forward line and the super speedy Felicity Galbally, who has set up countless goals this season, fired a perfectly positioned shot in to bring the score back in S&B's favour. Wasting no time, Winfield slipped a second past the Braintree keeper to complete a brace. Braintree continued to battle hard and Louise Marsack and Kerry Payton ran the length of the pitch over and over to cover the ground needed to keep the play in favour of S&B and to keep feeding the balls up the pitch to pressure the Braintree back line. Following a fabulous interception in the centre of play, Payton saw space away from the crowded right hand side of the pitch and passed the ball out far left to Marsack who then ran the ball through to the D and slipped a pass to Isabelle Williams who was perfectly positioned on the left post of the Braintree goal and slipped the ball in behind the keeper. Winfield then went on to complete her hat trick following a battle in the Braintree D and wrong-footed her play, turned and shot a superb goal at the backboard.

A very calm and controlled half time talk from S&B skipper Payton kept the home team in control of most of the play in the second half of the game but despite several great attempts at goal by Barker and Galbally, nothing was passing the Braintree keeper. Braintree continued to battle hard, putting pressure on the S&B midfield and defence and gave S&B as good as they got and their hard work eventually paid off in the form of a second goal. S&B instantly reacted and dug deeper to keep possession of the ball and try every trick in the Braintree D and a final goal mouth scrap between Galbally and the Braintree keeper saw Barker slip her second goal of the match through the keepers pads. Man of the match went to midfielders Payton and Marsack. Captain Kerry Payton said, "It was a brilliant effort by all to keep our one point lead and brings us another step closer to winning the league!".

This result keeps the 2s at the top of the Division 3 and secures a minimum second place finish.