Hunters put on five-star display as they move top of the table

AFC HENLEY HUNTERS U15s moved to the top of the Berkshire County Girls’ League Division 3 table thanks to a 5-0 win at LAUREL PARK STARZ U15s.

Henley opened the scoring when Isabella Lloyd won possession on the right side of the penalty area and looped a cross-shot over the keeper from an acute angle.

Five minutes later, a good move down the right saw Lloyd cross for Romy Draper but her effort narrowly went over the bar. The same duo repeated the move five minutes later but once again, Draper’s effort cleared the bar.

AFC Henley were defending from the front with Izzy Coleman, Ava Douglas and Ava Turner winning the ball back on several occasions high up the field to spring further attacks. This tenacity presented good chances to Ava Turner, Eliza Browne and Isabella Lloyd but the Laurel Park goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves.

Henley won a penalty early in the second half after Sofia-Rose Gallagher was brought down by the goalkeeper and this was dispatched with aplomb by Isabella Lloyd.

Laurel Park tried to attack but were met by an impenetrable barrier of Freya Weatherston, Isla Walsh-Smith, Eliza Browne, Betty Potter, Scarlett Chalk and Amelia Joao.

Despite their dominance, it wasn’t until the last eight minutes of the game that Henley netted three more goals. First a through ball from Amelia Joao put Romy Draper through on goal.

Her effort was saved by the keeper but rebounded to Sofia Rose-Gallagher who swept the ball home.

Three minutes later an Izzy Coleman cross was spilled by the goalkeeper and Draper was on hand to finish into an empty net.

Laurel Park broke forward to get an effort on goal. Abigail Palmer saved the initial shot and then Freya Weatherston intercepted the rebound to prevent the oncoming forward getting a consolation goal.

The final kick of the game saw the fifth goal with Kalypso Vogel volleying in an in-swinging corner from close range.

Despite a hard working performance AFC HENLEY HURRICANES U15s ended up on the wrong side of an 8-1 scoreline against Bisham-based FAB BLUES U15s at Harpsden.

There were few chances in the opening minutes of the game, as the teams sized each other up. The Blues had the first shot, a dangerous ball which whistled across the face of the goal. As their confidence grew, more shots came, although goalkeeper Harrison Carpenter Buckett dealt with everything confidently.

The Hurricanes took the lead after 20 minutes against the run of play. Gabriel Robbins-Cherry’s accurate corner fell to Will Clarke who fired home.

Despite conceding, the Blues continued to attack relentlessly and the Hurricanes resisted stoutly. However, just after the half hour the Blues equalised via a corner.

The Blues continued to pepper the Hurricanes’ goal after the restart. For the Hurricanes, Rupert Hepburn burst through the Blues’ defence, but couldn’t find a shot. A few minutes later, he was through again, played in by Tommy Greenham but hit the post.

The Hurricanes resisted for another 20 minutes. Defenders Clarke and Dominic Ellis were solid, supported by wing backs Benji Rillett and Jack Venn. Goalkeeper George Hodges made a fingertip save to keep the scores level.

Eventually the Blues did add to their total, a ball which was not cleared ended up over the line. The Blues added a third within five minutes, again from a corner, and added a further five in the last 15 minutes.

AFC HENLEY HORNETS U14s made it two East Berks League wins in a row and four wins in six league games with a hard-fought victory 3-2 victory against FINCHAMPSTEAD U14s.

Henley got off to a strong start, combining some neat interchanges in midfield with pace and power on the wings, well supported by fullbacks joining in attacks whenever they got the chance.

The opening goal came against the run of play with a long Finchampstead ball through the middle finished off after a mix-up at the back.

Henley hit back straight away with Dorata prodding the ball over the line after good work from Bowen and Sterjo to make it 1-1.

Henley took the lead with a fine goal from Lovelock, picking the ball up midway into the Finchampstead half and powering his way through the defence before firing home.

Hornets made it 3-1 in the second half when a free kick from Candilio was met at the back post by Sterjo, who knocked the ball back into the goalmouth for Bellout to react quickest and force the ball in.

Finchampstead pulled a goal back but Henley saw the game out to secure all three points.

On Sunday AFC HENLEY HORNETS U14s pulled off a cup upset as they defeated BURNHAM JUNIOR WHITES U14s, a side that play two divisions above them.

Henley started on the front foot, controlling the early stages without carving out many clear-cut chances. Much of their attacking threat came down the right-hand side, where Sterjo repeatedly troubled the Burnham defence.

The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Hepburn danced his way past four defenders before firing home.

Just before half-time Burnham launched an attack against the run of play. A long ball over the top split the Henley defence, allowing Burnham’s number nine a shot on goal. Henley keeper Andrews made a good low save, but the rebound fell kindly to a Burnham winger, who looked certain to score until Henley captain Lovelock produced a goal-line clearance.

Ten minutes into the second half, Burnham found an equaliser when a hopeful 30-yard effort from a midfielder, aided by a strong wind, looped over Andrews to make it 1-1.

Despite the setback, Henley remained the better side and the introduction of Dorata up front proved decisive. His physicality and determination immediately unsettled the Burnham back line and just five minutes after coming on, Dorata bulldozed his way through two defenders and unleashed a strike into the top corner to restore Henley’s lead.

Dorata nearly repeated the feat moments later, crashing a fierce strike against the crossbar.

AFC HENLEY HOTSPURS U13s drew their home league clash 5-5 with visitors ROTHERFIELD UNITED U13s.

The visitors had the better of the early stages but against the run of play, Miles Pickford snuck a goal past the Rotherfield keeper after 20 minutes to put the home side 1-0 ahead.

End-to-end action continued, and more pressure from Rotherfield saw Hotspurs’ newest player, Tommy Margetts making his mark with some good defensive work.

United equalised on
30 minutes before taking the lead just before half-time.

The first 10 minutes of the second half brought a hat-trick from Pickford, closely followed by a well-taken rebound from Oscar Partridge as he found the back of the net to put Henley 5-2 up.

Rotherfield did not let their heads drop and moments later they found the back of the net for the third time thanks to a well-taken free kick. United pulled a fourth goal back on 50 minutes to make it a nail-biting final 20 minutes.

Rotherfield’s pressure did not let up, but the Hotspurs defence, including three good saves in quick succession from goalkeeper Lucas Grange protected the narrow lead. However, the relentless attack from the visitors saw them eventually find an equaliser two minutes from time.