Another trip up the M11 this week for a game away to Bishop Stortford, Upminster winning the previous match 4-2 at the end of November. Steve Foster called on Keith Thwaites to help ensure Upminster travelled with a reasonable number of players and just as well he did as Graham Redwood and Damien O’Reilly were late, Keith making it the bare eleven at kick off starting in an unfamiliar left back role. It didn’t take long for Upminster to take the lead and what a goal it was. Thwaites started the move from left back with most of the team touching the ball before Tim Thomas crossed for Chas Helim to head home for 1-0. Bishop’s soon equalised with a scrappy goal that had a touch of offside about it but the U’s needn’t have worried too much. The lead was soon restored after an Andy Lines through ball to his central midfield partner Kevin Hoddy, who calmly slotted home to the keeper’s right. Hoddy made it a brace and 3-1 to the U’s before half time converting a penalty given after a foul in the area.

In the second half Hoddy completed his hatrick with a similar goal to his first this time Kane Ward turning provider with the through ball, Hoddy again slotting home calmly. Upminster’s fifth came courtesy of Simon Joy’s head, Helim crossing the ball on this occasion. The U’s final strike came in spectacular fashion, Lines volleying the ball into the net, this perhaps almost as rare as his headed goal from a few weeks ago! For all these goals Bishop’s could not add to their initial goal and so the game ended 6-1 and a comfortable win for Upminster.

Manager’s MOTM – “Kevin Hoddy” (Typical that I was away on holiday the one (and only?) time Hods gets a jug in!