Bare 11 Dominate Old Loughts

Southend & Benfleet 2nd XI - 3 (Nicole Rutter - 2, Ella)
Old Loughtonians - 0

Without a substitue, diving straight in to the first half S&B dominate with attack after attack. A persistent 15 minutes pay off with a fantastic ball from Lily Cole to Lesley Tonking for the 1st shot on goal. The opposition GK makes a firm save only to be beat by Nippy winger Nicole on the deflection slotting it wide of the keeper to secure Super 2 the upper hand. Old Loughts struggle to break through the armoured midfield denying them of any goal scoring opportunities. Keeping up the pressure with five minutes until half time, no. 10 Claire King sends a fast ball from the left wing into Lesley - just shy of the goal - who nudges the ball to teamate Rutter who successfully nets her second goal of the game! Half time 2-0 to S&B.

The second half starts more evenly matched with S&B's defender Michelle Arnold working hard to organise the back line to block the opposition from entering the D. Unfortunately it was only a matter of time before Old Loughts were awarded a first short corner with a nail biting scuffle to get the ball out the D it hits a defender's foot. However their shot was played out the game by second runner Sutton who sweeps up the ball from the D. Concerningly so Rutter takes a ball to the foot at close range leaving Super 2's to protect their lead with 10 minutes to go! S&B find the determination to attack once more and also bag themselves a penalty corner. Anna sends a flying ball to kingy who strikes at goal only to be deflected by the quick reactions of a defender into the path of Eager Ella making a b-line for the far post. With one swish movement Ella finds a happy home for the ball in the back of the opposition's goal on her debut for the team. Old Loughts dont give up fighting back with 3 short corners. But this was no match for home team's defence as captain Kerry rushes to prise the ball from striker's reach with 2 minutes to go and to remain with a clean sheet. Final score 3-0