Five-star Wargrave gain opening day derby win

HENLEY TOWN went down to a 5-1 Premier Division defeat at WARGRAVE’S Cantley Park last Saturday on a match played out on their 3G pitch.

With a much changed line-up from last season, Town gave debuts to six new players and took the lead after three minutes when midfielder Luke Davies opened the scoring with a 20-yard shot that beat home keeper Mike Adams at his near post.

Henley created further chances in the first half with Tommy Fosh, Alex Upton and Davies again all coming close while Town’s new keeper Dominic Wall was largely untroubled.

With Henley making two substitutions due to injury at half-time the visitors failed to get a grip on the game as the second half was all Wargrave. After pushing for the equaliser which was scored when captain Joe Wigmore converted a free kick, Wargrave made it 2-1 after a Harri Douglas corner was put in the net by Henley Town captain Bertie Gingell.

Zak Colvin added a third from outside the box before Teddy Thomas made it 4-1 capitalising on a defensive error.

The scoring ended when Dan Townson headed in from a free kick for 5-1.

Elsewhere in the division, GORING UNITED, despite starting brightly and creating several chances, went down to a 3-0 home defeat against TADLEY CALLEVA RESERVES.

In Division 1, ROTHERFIELD UNITED crashed to a 5-0 defeat at CAVERSHAM UNITED.

The hosts took the lead three minutes before the interval with a strike from Cameron Clark. In the second half Thomas Lotery doubled his side’s lead before Christopher Emmett netted a brace and Christian Opoku Osei wrapped up the scoring.

HENLEY TOWN DEVELOPMENT kicked off their Division 1 Development campaign with a 1-0 home win against AFC WINKFIELD RESERVES.

The first half ended goalless, largely thanks to a series of outstanding saves from goalkeeper Matthew Balchin, who kept Henley in the game with some brilliant shot-stopping. In midfield, George Chaplin and Scott Brown dominated proceedings, breaking up play and driving Henley forward.

The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute when Aiden Rushton raced down the left flank and delivered a precise cross for Sergio Lombardo, who coolly dispatched the ball into the top corner. Henley showed grit and determination to hold on to their lead, with every player digging deep until the final whistle.

Newly-formed HENLEY EXILES went down to a 2-0 defeat at Harpsden against visitors AFC ALDERMASTON RESERVES in Division 2.

In Division 4, ROTHERFIELD UNITED DEVELOPMENT drew 2-2 at home to CAMBERLEY UNITED with Lucas Rodrigues da Costa scoring a goal in each half for the hosts.