Harmer wraps up scoring as side maintain fine form

HENLEY 1sts went down to a 5-3 South Central Premier Division 1 defeat at BASINGSTOKE 1sts last Saturday.

Going into the match, Henley had a small squad due to injuries and illness. Despite the challenges, the visitors showed resilience in the first half, which ended 2-2 with Ed Foster both Henley’s goals.

In the second half, Henley took the lead thanks to a well-taken goal from Phil Laurie. However, Henley struggled to maintain concentration, which allowed Basingstoke to capitalise, and score three goals.

In South Central Division 2 North, HENLEY 2nds went down to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at home to NEWBURY AND THATCHAM 2nds.

Despite dominating possession and creating the better chances, Henley were unable to convert their opportunities, with a late goal proving decisive for the visitors.

The first half was a cagey affair, with Henley controlling the tempo and frequently pushing forward. Their midfield dictated play, moving the ball with confidence and finding space in attacking areas.

Despite a series of penalty corners and promising build-up play, the home side couldn’t find a way past Newbury’s disciplined defence and resolute goalkeeper.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Henley continuing to press and carve out scoring chances. Several efforts tested the Newbury keeper, but a combination of sharp reflexes and last-ditch defending kept the scores level.

As the game entered its final stages, Henley were left to rue their missed opportunities when Newbury struck on the counterattack. A swift break saw a well-placed shot find the back of the net, giving the visitors a lead against the run of play.

Henley threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but time ran out before they could respond, leaving them empty-handed.

HENLEY 3rds made it three South Central Division 4 North wins on the spin as they defeated visitors SOUTH BERKS 3rds 5-2.

South Berks made most of the early running, dominating possession and putting the Henley defence of Roberts, Nicholson, Conway-Hughes and Baker under pressure and forcing a couple of good saves from Dave Bowyer.

Henley were a little scrappier with the ball in the early stages, struggling to put together good possession, but had threatened going forwards to make an even first half. The visitors opened the scoring with 20 minutes played, turning over possession in the middle of the park and a good carry from the South Berks midfielder opened things up before slipping the ball left into the D for a straightforward finish.

Henley struck back immediately with a goal from John Joe Cottam who picked up the ball from a scramble just outside the top of the South Berks D and twisted and turned his way through a crowd before finishing with a reverse stick shot.

The half continued in similar fashion, with Dave Bowyer making a couple of important saves to keep the scores level, but Henley gradually gained more control of the ball as the half went on and took the lead just before half time, with Jamie Taylor getting in the right place to tap home Gordon Merritt’s ball across the goal.

In the second half the Henley midfield of Harmer, Price, Taylor and Rechner tirelessly scrapped for every ball while the defence remained calm under pressure. South Berks looked to play more aggressively, pushing numbers forward and pressing hard whilst Henley sought to keep shape and expose the spaces being left behind.

Neither side gave any quarter until after 20 minutes, the visitors found an equaliser through a short corner with a well-executed low flick. South Berks tried to carry the momentum from the goal with a period of sustained pressure but Henley resisted and in a thrilling final 10 minutes, regained the lead.

Working the ball wide right from a short corner before feeding James Rechner who teed up Taylor for his second of the match.

South Berks then went for broke to get back into the game but Henley were resolute in defence, and ruthless on the break.

Guy Harmer extended the lead with a well-taken goal, Merritt’s swept ball in to the D looping up into the air, Harmer brought it down with one touch and fired home.

Soon after a Merritt deft deflection off James Rechner’s fired ball into the D was steered past the keeper. HENLEY 4ths went down to a 4-1 defeat in their South Central Division 1 Thames clash at bottom-of-the-table SOUTH BEKRS 6ths.

While Henley had a young side, giving a debut to youngster Toby Lane and giving further pitch time to four other youth players, the hosts began the match in a manner which belied their bottom of the league position.

With some play which would have not gone amiss in much higher leagues, South Berks caught the visitors cold, scoring twice in the first seven minutes.

Henley put some decent attacks together as the half progressed but the hosts scored two more goals in a first half they dominated.

Henley got back to basics in the second half and this resulted in them getting a foothold in the match. While the hosts threatened, young goalkeeper Tomas Chamberlain pulled off some good saves and Henley started to prove much more of a threat going forward.

With 10 minutes to go, Henley pulled back a goal through Rupert Wiseman.