Hockey: First wins of season for Upminster men and women

They started strong and managed to secure the lead with a well-placed goal from Callum Berry, as the first half saw good hockey played by both sides.

St Albans struck back close to half time to leave it all square at the break but Upminster began the second half well and regained the lead after a fluid team move finished off by Josh Cipa.

Upminster continued to apply pressure and scored their third of the game with a powerful drag flick from Ollie Cipa, but St Albans fought to the finish and scored from a well-worked short corner routine.

The remaining 10 minutes were fiercely contested from by sides, but Upminster secured all three points when scoring from a well-worked short corner routine, as Berry netted at the back post to make it 4-2.

Liam Robertson was named man of the match for Upminster, who will look to build on their positive performance when they host Old Loughts this weekend.

The twos were looking to bounce back against Plashet after a disappointing defeat, but fell behind against the run of play.

Upminster levelled after a great run by Dan Boran and near-post deflection by Steve Wright, then took the lead when a strike at goal by Gus Siggins was touched in by Phil Hudson.

Plashet equalised just before the break, though, and took control in the second half, pushing hard for a winner and seeing a goal ruled out after an aerial into the D was deemed dangerous play.

A late string of penalty corners for Upminster were well defended as it ended all square, with Upminster visiting high-flying Brentwood this weekend.

The fifths played out a frantic 3-3 draw with their Brentwood counterparts at Becket Keys School.

Upminster started the brighter and went two goals up as man of the match James Cargill assisted veteran forward Paul Scott for two close-range goals.

An attack-minded Brentwood responded with a close-range goal of their own, before Alex Cutmore restored Upminster’s two-goal lead, striking home from a Jacob Eade cross.

But Brentwood then applied relentless pressure, with John Daltrey making numerous saves and captain Patrick Carroll producing a goalline clearance from a short corner.

And in spite of the best efforts of the Upminster defence, Brentwood netted two fine goals to square matters, as Upminster look to continue their unbeaten start to the season against Chelmsford sevens at Coopers on Saturday.

*A hat-trick from captain Megan Miller and a last-gasp goal from Freya Long gave Upminster’s women their first win of the season at Dereham.

Having gone 3-1 down Upminster fought back as Miller netted from a penalty corner, open play and a penalty flick to level.

Both teams searched for a winner and U’s forced a penalty corner right on the final whistle, with the injection going to Miller who managed to find Long on the back post to deflect it past the despairing Dereham keeper.

After two lengthy road trips in two weeks, Upminster are back home to face Peterborough on Saturday (2.30pm).