AN Ashlie Colman treble was enough to give Southend & Benfleet the points against struggling Witham firsts.

Witham were sitting bottom but put up an impressive fight and even opened the scoring, with a well-executed goal inside the right post.

S&B had all the possession and they equalised through Colman before long.

Nina Coleman organised the S&B defence of Rachel Jeffery (player of the match), Jodie Linge and Kendall Colman, keeping the scores level at half-time.

In the second-half, S&B were awarded a penalty corner which Colman struck from the top of the D and the away side celebrated as it hit the backboard.

Team work and communication between the Southend & Benfleet midfield players Nicola Bryant, Chloe Harris and Caitlin Meredith kept the pressure on Witham and great passing between Ashlie Colman and Kirsty Durban saw Colman net her hat-trick.

The seconds were beaten 4-0 by Witham’s second team, with Witham getting on the score sheet early doors with a strong strike that keeper Charley Edwards could do nothing about.

Edwards made several good saves to keep the scores down but couldn’t prevent another accurate effort finding its way into the net.

S&B had plenty of chances and spent a lot of time in Witham's D but could not find the back of the net, despite winning a few penalty corners.

A positive was the play of Lily Cole, playing up from the third XI, who was voted player of the match on her debut for the seconds.

The third XI did not have a game but will be back in action at the weekend when they take on top-of-the-table Phoenix.