Ambitious Ladies team has eye on promotion after 4-1 victory over Havant

A TRIP to the south coast saw Henley Ladies 1sts run out 4-1 winners over Havant in their bid for promotion.

It was a steady start for Henley as they settled into the game, mindful of the closely fought game previously and a win or draw was all that was needed to keep their promotion hopes alive. Henley had an extensive change to their backline with two regulars out, this posed an opportunity for Alyx Clarke to step up, as well as shifting Mel Joyce into centre back and Emma Joseph into left back. Defensively they were solid throughout.

The first Henley goal came from some excellent play by Emma Jean Jean, weaving from right to left and finding Kiera Halloran who’s first time shot sent the ball past the keeper to go 1-0 up within the first five minutes. Henley managed to extend their lead thanks to a well-rehearsed short corner. Emma Joseph finding Charlotte Hetherington who deflected the ball into the net. Havant managed to get a goal back shortly before half-time to close the gap and apply some added pressure.

Some slight changes to the press in the second half meant Henley applied more pressure to the Havant backline, where mistakes were capitalised on. Louisa Lynch tirelessly worked hard to win the ball back and transfer to the forwards where the counter attacks were in abundance.

The third goal came from another well-worked short corner — a Georgie Metcalfe strike finding the bottom corner. Extending the lead to 3-1 gave Henley the breathing space to play with more freedom and relax into the game. The final goal came two minutes from time, Emma Joseph finding the back board after a well-taken short corner.

The victory was one of the most composed and commanding performances of the season, a true team effort supported by an excellent back-line despite the changes. Player of the Match was Louisa Lynch, with excellent performances also from Mel Joyce, Emma Joseph, Alyx Clarke and Lucy Jean Jean.

Henley now face Sonning at home tomorrow (Saturday) where a win could see the them promoted back to South Central Division 1.

Henley Ladies 2nds 8-2 win over Yateley on Saturday puts them one win away from winning the league.

A characteristic fast start saw Henley combative all over the pitch, and finding ways to play passes to slice through the Yateley lines. One such quick passing move saw Hayley Munt pick it up in the D, the onrushing keeper half-saving but Chloe Lyons was there to finish the loose ball on her reverse.

Yateley were trying to play out down the left, but Sophie Miller and Giorgia Fiorentino were more than a match and fought well to stop the flow. Kat Green tidied up any long Yateley hits at the back and was distributing everywhere in her usual accurate disguised style.

These balls were really troubling Yateley and another combo move among the forwards saw Munt slot home the second calmly.

A few minutes later and Henley nabbed the third goal. Munt once again intercepted on the right touchline and hit a perfect pass to Lyons at the top of the D, who took a touch and roofed the ball across goal into the far top corner. Yateley came out for the second half with confidence, and grabbed two goals against the run of play midway through the half.

Henley were fighting hard with midfielders Lily Wylie, Kirsten Botha, Maddie Moore and Sophy Rogers all needing to drop in and help out the defence with vital harrying and jab tackles.

Ella Shute was also sweeping up at the back and clearing the ball away. In goal, Ellie Bryant had to make a couple of reaction saves. Injured captain Emma Hedges gamely came on for ten minutes to rally the troops and give the forwards a rest - Carter and Munt in particular had been tirelessly hassling the Yateley defence.

And then something switched….a wave of yellow hit Yateley unawares. The team started to flood forward and a goalfest ensued.

Munt on the left wing was proving herself completely unplayable, and was rewarded by latching onto a through ball, holding off two defenders and smashing it into the goal.

A few minutes later it was the never tiring Botha who found herself ahead of the forwards, calmly receiving the ball in the D and slotting it past the keeper.

Two minutes later another storming run saw Munt once again shoot at goal for Lyons to finish off with a deflection. Lyons returned the favour two minutes later, receiving a beautiful long ball hit from Botha, and slotting Munt in with a ball behind the defence to cleverly finish with her first touch.

To cap the game off in style, at one end Izzy Woolfrey having made a goal saving stop, then started a move, from which Henley went down to the other end of the pitch and won a short corner. Woolfrey then stick stopped for a slick one-two with Lyons finishing into the corner to end the game with a goal. Final score 8-2 with Lyons and Munt both securing hat-tricks.

Henley Ladies 3rds and Reading Ladies 7ths battled to a 1-1 draw in a spirited local derby. Henley started brightly, their midfield quartet of Charlotte Irving, Poppy Williams, Delphine Roff, and Jules Tomlinson controlling the tempo and creating numerous chances.

However, against the run of play, Reading snatched a goal on the stroke of half-time via a messy short corner.

Henley swiftly equalised after the restart. Angela Botha fired home a powerful straight strike from a short corner. The Henley defence, featuring Fiona Dunn, Martha Peach, Perdy Beard, Botha, Chloe James, and Flo Hughes, stood firm, repelling Reading's attacks and a series of short corners.

Crucially, Georgie Grocock, in goal, made several vital saves, ensuring Henley stayed in the game. Up front, Nina Lloyd and Emily Matthews worked tirelessly, but could not find the decisive goal.

Despite the draw, Henley 3rds extend their impressive run, having only lost two games this season. With promotion still a possibility, they'll be aiming for victories in their remaining fixtures.

The match was a compelling contest between Henley's youthful energy and Reading's experience, ultimately ending in a fair result, though Henley will feel they left two points behind due to missed opportunities.