HOCKEY: Southend & Benfleet’s first team fought hard for a 1-1 draw at second in the league Crostyx seconds.

Southend & Benfleet got off to a confident start with Chloe Syvrett and Lily Cole playing together in attack.

Rachel Jeffery found a Crosytx foot in the D and a penalty corner was awarded.

Skipper Syvrett shot from the left taking the home side by surprise and S&B took the lead.

Later on in the second half Crostyx capitalised on the S&B defence playing high in attack and keeper Lisa Hawkins found herself against two Crostyx players.

She saved the first shot but was unable to take the rebound.

Going into the second half both teams had chances and Hawkins won player of the match for outstanding saves.

S&B’s second side lost 2-0 at home to Chelmsford’s fourth team while the third team won 3-2 against East London’s ninth team in a nail biting game.

East London did not have a keeper, which left an open goal for S&B, but they were fast and quick to intercept passes which made the game a challenge.

London raced into a 2-0 lead but once S&B caught on to their goal hanging tactic, the defence hung back and waited for their forwards to attack and keeper Fran Bates was ready to stop any attempts at a goal.

In the second half mother daughter duo Lily and Claire King were on fire up front. The team tried a new short corner tactic from training and Lily King walloped a goal into the bottom corner. Lily also assisted Claire with the other two goals, one from top D where Claire was ready and waiting to strike, the other from a short corner.

Courtney James won player of the match for her swift dribbles in midfield.

Elsewhere, the fourth team beat Old Southendian 4-1 with goals from Clemmie Farmer, Codie Rowney, Lulu Johnson and Charlotte Smith while Southend & Benfleets U14s girls’ team lost 2-1 at Old Loughtonians.

Anna Tutton scored S&B’s goal.