Hockey: Havering men edged out, women empty-handed at home

The visitors found themselves down to 10 men after just five minutes and on the back foot.

But absorbed the additional strain and began to assume control, only to fall behind against the run of play as a Hertford forward netted with a well executed reverse stick strike.

Havering reacted well and continued to press high up the pitch, maintaining possession for much of the time.

And their tenacity soon paid dividends as Oliver Hinton’s through ball to debutant Luke Alexandrou resulted in a foul in the D and Paul Dover converted the penalty stroke.

Havering continued their positive style of play in the second half, but were undone once again by a Hertford side favouring a more physical, counter-attacking approach.

And despite winning plenty of short corners, it was not to be Havering’s day as they fell to a 2-1 loss.

The seconds found table-topping Brentwood too strong, falling to a 7-1 defeat at Campion.

With captain Ryan Lee absent and a number of others injured, Havering named an experimental side with a change of formation.

Brentwood’s fluent and well-drilled play forced Havering onto the back foot for the majority of the game as they netted three penalty corners.

Greg Carolan scored a consolation goal for the hosts, who will look to bounce back this weekend.

The thirds beat Waltham Forest fourths 2-0, after James Willcocks netted in the third minute and Elijah Cook struck just before half-time.

And the fourths beat table-topping Chelmsford eighths by the same margin after a fine display.

Dalveer Sehmbi returned from injury and Paul Afteni’s men retained possession well with slick ball movement, releasing wingers Alex Bilby and Harry Pengelly with regularity.

The deadlock was broken on 25 minutes when Bilby’s ball into the D found Will Le’Sage who produced a confident sweep shot across the keeper to find the backboard.

Havering continued to press, with Mitchell Cuttell netting a second after a deft assist from Martin John.

And they defended that lead as Chelmsford pushed in the second half, with Pengelly doing excellent defensive work.

Cuttell, Paul Mitchley and Tom Mann worked tirelessly in midfield, as Sehmbi, Luke Phillips and Robert Chart cleared any danger at the back.

Alex Baccaro produced a fine save at a short corner to deny the hosts, with Toby John’s fresh legs helping Havering hold on in the closing stages.

Havering’s women fell back to the bottom of the table after a 2-0 home defeat against Colchester.

Early penalty corners went to waste, before the visitors struck twice in a minute with a penalty stoke and following a lapse in marking.

Alex Semon, Monica Dubb, Laura Burke and Louise Burgess held firm after that, as midfielders Tess Meehan, Tilly Bunn, Bethan Isherwood, Lauren Earle, Charlotte Chamberlin and Emily Gilkes-Tarsey started to break through.

And Havering went close when Izzy Purdie and Emily Martin broke but could not take their chances.

Gilkes-Tarsey went closest from a second-half corner, firing just wide, as keeper Emilie Milloy dealt well with Colchester attacks.

And Sue Harwood had a late corner strike ruled out for being too high as Havering were left empty-handed.

Cidney Payton’s second-half goal saw the seconds to a 1-0 win at Braintree, while Stephanie Dickinson put the thirds ahead at Old Loughts fifths.

The hosts hit back with four unanswered goals, though, before Rachel Ahmed grabbed Havering’s second.

The fourths came from behind to draw 1-1 with Thurrock seconds, thanks to a beautiful reverse-hit strike from debutant Sophie Ahmad, who took the player of the match award.

Katie Coyne impressed in goal, with Taz Bailey, Dickinson and Liz Meehan also impressing.