Goal in each half dumps Hurricanes out of cup

AFC HENLEY HURRICANES U15s were knocked out of the East Berks League Cup at the quarter-final stage following a 2-0 defeat to CAVERSHAM JAGUARS U15s at Rivermead.

Both teams started positively and created chances to score. The Jaguars went ahead after seven minutes, a well-judged free kick squeezing into the top of the net, helped by a blustery wind and perhaps a hint of a deflection. The game found its rhythm, with the Jaguars having slightly more possession, but neither team creating clear scoring opportunities. A combination of the wind, occasional heavy rain and the bouncy surface meant the play was quite scrappy.

The Hurricanes’ best chance of the half followed a sharp passing move between Gabriel Robbins-Cherry and Oscar Robinson, but Robinson’s shot was blocked by the keeper.

Bruce Cuzen hit the side netting while Robinson and Dominic Ellis had headers from corners which ran just wide.

The second half saw the Hurricanes pushed back into defence. Ellis tracked back to cut out a potential scoring opportunity and fellow defenders Jack Tookey and Will Clarke were also kept busy. The Jaguars doubled their tally on 50 minutes when they outnumbered the Hurricanes’ defence and tucked the ball home at the back post.

The Hurricanes continued to work hard in defence and put together some passes to get the ball into attack. But aside from long shots from Tookey and Rupert Hepburn they did not threaten the Jaguars’ goal.