Southend 3 Crostyx 4

The last two games for Crostyx ladies 1st XI had not produced the results they had expected so they were determined to make amends when they travelled to Southend on Saturday.

With a strong squad, Crostyx came out fighting. From the push back they began to build a series of attacks quickly putting Southend on the back foot. The visitors were rewarded with an early goal through an attack down the right resulting in a pass to Thea Hitchcock who controlled the ball and fired home at full stretch.

Crostyx continued to attack, dominating the game through the midfield where Keeley Pratt, Donna Blockley, Laura Beaton and player of the match Kirsty Breeze combined well pushing forwards to strengthen the attack. They were soon rewarded with a string of short corners, the first of which was converted with a straight strike from Sarah Belsham to give Crostyx a two goal lead.

Having controlled the majority of the half Crostyx were caught on the back foot when Southend counter attacked, managing to score at close range. The home side grew in confidence from the goal, enjoying a period of possession and winning a short corner that they converted with a shot straight down the middle of the goal.

Having dominated the half and created numerous chances Crostyx were surprised not to be in the lead at the break.

The second half saw a similar pattern of Crostyx dominating possession and passing the ball around crisply. Jo Hill contributed well to the attack, adding another dimension to the Crostyx forward line.

The visitors finally regained the lead when Donna Blockley, pushing up from the centre back position, was first to react to a loose ball in the D, calmly sweeping the ball into the goal.

Southend responded again, catching Crostyx on the break and scoring from short range to level the score once more.

With 10 minutes left to play Crostyx stepped up a gear, increasing the pressure on the Southend defense. They were rewarded with a series of short corners. A straight strike that rebounded back to the top of the D was controlled by Belsham who slipped the ball right to Jo Ward. Ward’s shot was blocked but only as far as Breeze who passed the ball back across the goal for Blockley to score her second of the game with an easy tap in at the left post.

With the lead again Crostyx were determined not to let it slip in the last minutes of the game. The defense held strong, led by Lisa Dennett at sweeper who ensured that the last ditch attempts of the home side did not come to anything.

A good victory for Crostyx who are keen to finish the season on a high note. They play their final game at home on Saturday against an already relegated Folkestone side.