Essex Open 82, Vibrant 37.

Essex took another large step towards a return to Regional Division One with this emphatic win over close rivals Vibrant. The early exchanges saw both sides matvching each other goal for goal , but Essex soon got on top with Johanne Linehan, Jasmin Odegberin  and Rebecca Wilks dominating the centre court. They were able to create chances for Maddie Oshodi and Atronna Sebyala to convert into goals. Essex soon established a clear advantage as they went 8-3 up. Essex continued to dominate the first quarter and by the end of it were 17-9 in front.

In the second quarter, Essex stepped up the pace, although losing Renee Hurley to injury. Emma Thorogood slotted neatly into the circle where Emma Shaw was defending well. Essex continued to score frequently with Oshodi and Sebyala piling on the goals and at half time the game was all but over as Essex led 40-20. In the first part of the third quarter, Vibrant matched Essex goal for goal, who had introduced Nicole Alves into the entre court, with both sides scoring six apiece. However, in the second half of the third quarter, Essex put together an astonishing period of play, scoring 14 goals without reply, as the score moved from 46-26 to 60-26. In the last quarter, again, at the start of it, Vibrant came back into  the game, but once again Essex turned on the pressure and ultimately ran out 82-37 winners. Essex now has a clear eight -point lead at the top of Division 2, as well as having a massive goal difference. Victory in their next game away to the Downs in two weeks time will all but secure promotion.

Hurley, Shaw, Thorogood, Alves, Odegberin, Linehan, R Wilks, Sebyala, Oshodi