SOUTHEND & Benfleet made an electric start to their match with Harlow, scoring with their first attack.

Sarah Conway smashed home an impressive strike to set S&B on their way to a comfortable 4-0 win in the Essex Premier League, which keeps them hot on the heels of leaders Hornchurch.

Conway’s strike was the quickest opening goal in the club’s history.

Despite, the fast start, the home side had to be patient before extending their lead.

In fact, but for some precisision tackles from Jodie Linge and Nicola Coleman the visitors may well have levelled.

But S&B soon found their attacking rhythm again and after great team-work from Adele Cole and Lora Sharples, Nicola Bryant was on hand to double their advantage.

The second half saw Ashlie Colman spearheading several attacks on the Harlow goal before S&B were awarded a penalty flick after one of her shots was stopped on the line by a Harlow foot.

Her fellow striker, Kirsty Edmunds, took the flick and slipped it passed the goalie to take the score to 3-0 midway through the second half.

Not long after that, Edmunds weaved across the pitch before cracking home an impressive fourth goal.

S&B’s player of the match was Hayley Middleton.

l Southend & Benfleet’s second team were beaten at second-in-the-table Witham.

Anna Winfield opened the scoring for S&B but before long Witham were level.

Isabelle Williams and Aimee Cole, brought up from the thirds for this game, showed they can cope with division three level hockey by putting in impressive performances.

The second half started with another goal for the hosts and saw S&B defending an onslaught of penalty corners which the defence dealt with amazingly – Anne Johnson and Michelle Arnold organising the defence while keeper Carly Winfield pulled off some impressive saves to keep S&B in the game.

Captain Kerry Payton was voted player of match for, among other things, the number of times she ran out first to defend short corners, blocking the majority of shots.

Witham managed to squeeze a shot in making the score 3-1 but heads did not drop and in the dying seconds, Hannah Daish blasted a late consolation goal making it 3-2.

l A GOAL from Chloe King helped Southend & Benfleet’s third team beat Upminster’s fifth side 1-0.

Due to new league rules, meaning that goalies can double up on games, the thirds were able to have keeper Lisa Hawkins in goal, which gave them the support at the back they really need as a new side. This gave them confidence and boosted the whole team, leading to an early goal from King which they held on to for the rest of the game.

Player of the match was jointly shared with Charley Edwards and Grace Wright.