Last-minute winner for Wapping women

Wapping's Sophie Bennet on the attack against Upminster (pic Iain McAuslan) (Image: Archant)

Wapping’s women beat local rivals Old Loughtonians in their East Premier Division encounter thanks to a last-minute goal from captain Lucy Todd.

The home side began well, applying pressure, but Wapping’s makeshift defence held firm and the scoreline remained blank at the interval.

Loughts took the lead early in the second half with some good passing setting up the chance to beat Wapping keeper and player of the match Megan Pugh.

But Pugh then produced some outstanding saves to deny them further goals, including a fantastic stop from a penalty flick with 10 minutes remaining.

That gave Wapping a lift and a good passing play from the back led to a short corner, with Aisling McKeon producing a clean strike when the move broke down to level matters.

Both sidese pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Kate Silbermann on the wrong end of a goalkeeper tackle before Belinda Armstrong and Fran Sutton were shown cards.

Loughts were also down to 10 players and pressed hard, but Wapping dug deep to keep out a string of corners and then earned one of their own in the final minute.

And a well-drilled routine set up the chance for skipper Todd to fire a clean strike into the net from the left of the D to claim the bragging rights and earn three vital points for her side.

The seconds lost 2-0 against Tunbridge Wells, while the thirds were held to a scoreless draw by Crostyx seconds, but the fourths beat Upminster seconds 2-1 thanks to goals from Ruadhan Jenkins and Sophie Bennett.

Goals from Anna Fisher and Ella van den Brink proved in vain as the fifths lost 3-2 to Havering seconds, while the sixths drew 2-2 with Upminster fourths as Bee Hughes and Ema McCready found the target.