The visitors made a slow start and found themselves 2-0 down after only 15 minutes, but gradually took control as their pressure began to tell.

A devastating 10-minute spell before half-time turned the match around, with Adam Willett, Liam Appleyard and Connor Poulain all converting penalty-corner routines to send Havering into the break 3-2 ahead.

Old Southendian levelled from a penalty stroke two minutes after the restart, but Liam Purton restored Havering’s advantage before Poulain struck his second from another penalty corner to make it 5-3.

The hosts pulled one back with nine minutes remaining, but Havering survived an edgy finish to claim all three points.

Havering seconds had to settle for a frustrating 1-1 derby draw with Upminster thirds despite dominating much of the contest.

Sam Green finally broke the deadlock with five minutes remaining after man of the match Paul Johnson, playing with a fractured thumb, won possession and Haydn Joslin supplied the final pass.

But Upminster converted a late penalty corner to snatch a point.

The thirds played out a goalless draw with Waltham Forest fifths, while Havering fourths earned a 2-1 victory at Witham fourths.

Lawrence Gibbs opened the scoring before setting up Eli Cook, with goalkeeper Thomas Gaut producing a vital late save to preserve the win.

The fifths enjoyed a convincing 4-1 success at Waltham Forest fifths, with George Richards scoring twice alongside goals from Danny Sales and Roger Hiett.

Thomas Gray’s first-half penalty-corner strike earned the sixths development side a 1-0 win at Chelmsford eighths, lifting Havering above their opponents into second on goal difference.

Havering Ladies suffered a 3-0 defeat at Letchworth, but the seconds celebrated their first points of the season with a 2-0 derby victory over Upminster fourths, Nina Brennan scoring both goals.

The Ladies thirds went down 3-1 to Southend and Benfleet thirds despite Karen Millicent putting Havering ahead.

But the Ladies fourths finished on a high with a commanding 4-0 victory over Southend thirds.

Sophie Runcorn and Tracey True-Evans found the net before Alex Casemore struck twice, while debut goalkeeper Jessie Boyle kept a clean sheet.