Green’s late strike earns points for table toppers

HENLEY LADIES 1sts ran out 4-0 winners at SONNING LADIES 1sts in last Saturday’s South Central Premier Division 2 clash last Saturday.

Henley found their rhythm after a frustrating start, holding possession but not able to complete passes. Henley took the lead from a counter-attack, involving a number of players with which resulted in Georgie Metcalfe scoring.

Henley doubled their lead when Jane Dench found a midfielder and Emma Jean-Jean then passed to Metcalfe at the far post who sent a reverse shot past the keeper for her second goal of the game.

It was a slow start to the second half for Henley who conceded a flurry of short corners as Robyn Horan cleared her lines and kept things at bay.

Henley settled and played with intent thereafter. An Emma Jean-Jean breakaway in midfield found player-of-the-match Pippi Heath who drove at the defence and fired the ball past the keeper where Lucy Jean-Jean poached the ball into the goal to put Henley 3-0 up.

The fourth goal came shortly after from a quickly taken free hit. Charlotte Hetherington drove the baseline finding Lou Lynch on the penalty spot and sent the ball in the back of the net to make it 4-0.

South Central Division 3 North league leaders HENLEY LADIES 2nds ran out 2-1 winners at MILTON KEYNES LADIES 2nds.

Henley began with intensity, dominating the opening exchanges and linking up brilliantly between midfield and attack. Despite creating numerous early chances, they were unable to convert as Milton Keynes’ solid defence held firm. However, Henley’s persistence paid off as Ella Shute capitalised on a well-executed attacking play to slot home the opener.

The lead was short-lived as Milton Keynes caught Henley on the counter, levelling the score before half-time. At half-time, adjustments were made and a tactical switch to a 4-4-2 formation allowed Henley to regain control. Despite tired legs in the second half, the visitors continued to push forward. The defensive unit stood tall, with standout tackles and strong organisation preventing Milton Keynes from finding another breakthrough.

Henley created further opportunities, winning several short corners, but struggled to find the finishing touch. As the clock ticked down, it was Kat Green who delivered the decisive moment. A well-executed short-corner routine saw her slot the ball into the back of the net, sealing the win in the dying minutes. In men’s hockey, HENLEY 2nds ran out 3-1 winners in their home South Central Division 2 North clash with BUCKINGHAM 1sts.

The opening goal came following a good passing move that led to Geoff Joseph beat a defender and guid the ball past the keeper. Buckingham attempted to exploit short corners but were thwarted by the goalkeeping of Bryn Crampsie and his defenders. Henley doubled their lead in the second half when Richard Woolfrey fired home.

A comedy of errors in Henley’s defensive 25 gifted Buckingham a goal. Henley hit back with Woolfrey netting his second of the match.

In South Central Division 1 Thames, HENLEY 4ths went down to a 7-1 defeat at AMERSHAM AND CHALFONT 5ths.

Both teams started brightly with opportunities at each end before Amersham took the lead with a well-worked goal after 15 minutes.

Henley hit back with Zack Barrass scoring his first senior goal a few minutes later. Amersham restored their lead after 25 minutes before Henley missed their chance to equalise for the second time.

With the Amersham keeper making a solid save, the home side then broke, scoring and going into half time 3-1 up.

Much as Henley’s half time reorganisation resulted in a decent start to the second half, they didn’t put away their chances in the Amersham circle, and the young legs of the home side began to tell, with a tired Henley defence and midfield turning over the ball in threatening parts of the pitch, which was compounded with their failure to track the home side’s attackers.

HENLEY 5ths played out a goalless draw at home to SONNING 5ths in their South Central Division 3 Thames clash.

Sonning came out in determined fashion but a well organised defence held off the early pressure and the midfield duo of James Lane and James Edgell gradually took control in midfield and some excellent passing movements dominated the game.

Sonning were confined to the occasional break but were rebuffed by the last ditch goalkeeping of Ed Hems and a back line of experience and youth with Tomas Chamberlain having a great game at right back.

Henley maintained there excellent distribution and use of the wide areas but were unable to find the killer touch to provide the goal to break the deadlock.

This continued well into the second half. Again Henley played some good hockey but were unable to convert.