SOUTHEND & Benfleet Hockey Club have launched their own junior section.

Teams will be entered in the Essex Mini League at under 10 and under 12 age-groups for both boys and girls.

And coach Adele Cole has already been delighted by the uptake from the area’s young players.

“It’s been great to see and we’re really enjoying being a part of it,” explained Cole.

“The coaching is open for anyone aged between seven and 13. Children of all abilities are welcome to come along from beginners to those who are a bit more experienced.

“Our coaches are also England hockey qualified, DBS checked with first aid certificates and insurance and we hope to see more and more youngsters getting involved now.”

Hour long coaching sessions take place at The King Edmund School in Rochford every Monday evening during term time, starting at 6pm.

And the new junior section is the latest expansion for Southend & Benfleet who were first formed in 2010 by a group of friends.

The main purpose was to play for fun and enjoyment but the club have gone on to secure incredible success, winning promotion every single season.

A second team was introduced in 2012 and they have also gone up from their league each year.

Due to the growing popularity, the club will now be entering a third team with the Essex County Hockey Association.

But Southend & Benfleet are now also focusing on the youth section and bringing through their own players.

Hockey sticks are available to borrow if required for anyone wanting to come along.

Shin pads are also essential and mouth-guards are recommended.

The first training session is free of charge and for further details contact Adele Cole on adelevcole@ gmail.com. More information can be found on the club’s website, www.pitchero.com/clubs/southendbenfleethockeyclub/

 

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Southend & Benfleet Ladies show resolve to turn-around score

 

SOUTHEND & Benfleet’s ladies first team produced a fine second half performance to crush Romford 7-2 in the Essex Premier Division.

Sarah Conway got a hat-trick and Ashlie Coleman got a brace in the resounding victory.

Hosts Romford opened the scoring from a short corner inside 10 minutes but Coleman soon levelled things up after winning a battle with the home keeper.

S&B took the lead when Caitlin Meredith received a long pass in the top right corner of the pitch; a quick pass back to Kirsty Edmunds saw Edmunds weaving into the D and firing home.

An amazing reverse stick flick from a Romford player sent the ball flying into the back of the S&B goal to draw the teams level at half-time, but it was all one-way traffic from thereon in.

S&B racked up a record-breaking amount of short corners which they soon capitalised on with Conway bagging not just one, but two goals from the set pieces.

Coleman managed to claim her second goal from another short corner after a clever slipped ball caught the Romford defence off guard and Nicola Bryant took the score to 6-2 after she snapped up the rebound.

S&B never let up and as Romford heads dropped player of the match Conway managed to sneak through a final goal which gave her a hat-trick and took the score to 7-2 shortly before full time.

l Southend and Benfleet’s second team also had a winning weekend, as they beat East London XI 3-1.
Goals from Lesley Tonking, Anna Winfield and Claire King gave them their first three points in Essex Division Three.

Keeper Carly Winfield was man of the match.

 

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Lockwood brace enough for Southend in Brentwood win

 

JAMES Lockwood grabbed a brace as Southend’s first team won 4-2 against Brentwood II.
Neil Utton and Billy Taylor were also on the scoresheet.

The men’s second team also got the better of a Brentwood side, beating the thirds 2-0.

The scoreline didn’t really do justice to the dominance of Southend who missed a host of chances to add to their score.

In the end they had to settle for goals from Adam Higman and Tom Madden.

Southend Ladies’ second team had a terrible start to their home match with Thurrock II.

They started with just nine players and were thankful for some last-minute reinforcements.

Despite being back to full strength and playing some good hockey, Southend found themselves trailing 4-0 at the interval and despite an improved showing in the second half, ultimately fell to a 5-0 defeat.

The ladies’ third team took on Redbridge & Ilford in their first game of the season and drew 1-1 with Kristina Drake winning the player of the match award.