Phoenix Hockey Club ladies’s first-team captain Emma Fulcher was delighted to see the progress they have made as they moved top of the Essex Women’s League premier division by overcoming their old adversary Southend and Benfleet.

Both teams were promoted into the top flight last year and the home side were the only team Phoenix failed to beat in 2013/14 it so was always going to be a tight affair, but Phoenix won 2-1.

Fulcher was away for the fixture but was pleased with the result and said it shows how they have moved on.

She said: “Winning this game marks a real consolidation of how we intend to play this season.

“There were some nerves about facing a team which we had failed to beat last year but we have spent a lot of time at training strengthening our match play, integrating our new young players and making the most of the considerable talent we have across the squad.”

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