Hurricanes take sting out of Scorpions

AFC HENLEY HURRICANES U15s maintained their unbeaten East Berks League Division 2 record as they put in a fine display of attacking football to defeat visitors GB SCROPIONS U15s 8-1 on a heavy Jubilee Park pitch last Saturday.

Hurricanes started brightly with the midfield quartet of Theo Decardi-Nelson, Rhys Herbert, Ethan Massey and Liam James dictating play. Henley won a corner which was floated in by Herbert and after a scramble in the box the ball was stabbed home by Angus Smith to open the scoring.

Moments later a fine move from back to front instigated by a long throw from goalkeeper Sam Franklin enabled Alf Monsen to drive down the right from fullback, beating a couple of defenders but he wasn’t quite able to get his shot away from just inside the box.

A number of chances came and went before a fine threaded through ball from Josh Nicholson put James through on goal and he calmly placed it past the keeper to make it 2-0 going into half-time.

After the break the Hurricanes came out firing. Another goal from Smith early in the half effectively killed the game, and was swiftly followed by a fourth goal from Phoenix Fletcher, squeezing the ball in despite a great attempt from the away goalkeeper, who got a hand on it but wasn’t able to prevent it going into the net.

A second goal for James made it 5-0 with 20 minutes to play. Some strong defensive work at the back from Henry Connolly, Charlie Manley and Alessandro Elliott kept Scorpions at bay until a misplaced pass enabled them to pull a goal back.

Despite the lapse, Hurricanes stepped up their efforts, as Scorpions, without any substitutes available, started to tire. Hurricanes’ pressure was duly rewarded with goals from Fletcher again and Micah Bertenshaw, both coming from crosses into the six yard box.

The scoring was completed when fullback Freddie Platt drove into the box and slotted the ball into the far corner for his first goal of the season, capping off a dominant performance for the Hurricanes.

AFC HENLEY HURRICANES U14s put in a good fight in their latest league match, but ultimately Slough-based BLACK PANTHERS DONS U14s rode out 4-2 winners.

The Hurricanes went behind after five minutes and it took them a while to recover from this setback, despite a good work rate.

Henley’s defence of Jack Tookey, Adam Hanley, Ewan Jorgensen and Luca Currie with Will Lindsay at left back had to work hard to combat the threat from the Dons’ strikers.

The Hurricanes’ attack worked well together with Nicholas Hernandez St Clair and Oscar Robinson scoring. They were well supported by Jack Callaway on the wing and Will Goulden in the centre, alongside the pace of Charlie Dix, whilst Tommy Greenham and Josh Butler linked in well from midfield.

The Hurricanes’ men of the match were Callaway and Robinson.