GRAVESEND Hockey Club traveled across the Thames and into Essex for their first game of the new year at Basildon and came home with a good result.

Despite playing well and having opportunities, Gravesend were unable to get onto the score sheet during the first half and neither could Basildon due to some excellent goalkeeping from Lucy Allinson.

Gravesend came out really strongly in the second half and the Basildon keeper kept them in the game by pulling off unbelievable saves to deny Karen Jones, Lucy Darbon, Kerry Jewiss and Hayley Lucas, who together could have given Gravesend a four or five goal lead.

Jewiss finally broke the deadlock after picking up a long ball from captain Sadie Mitchell, which she managed to flick over the outstretched sliding keeper to give Gravesend in front.

Despite both teams having further opportunities, there were no further goals, leaving Gravesend to claim all three points.

Player of the match was Lucy Darbon.