Oxford Hawks downed by Heatherington strike

HENLEY LADIES 1sts ran out 1-0 winners in their second South Central Women’s Premier Division 1 match of the season against visitors OXFORD HAWKS 2nds at Shiplake College last Saturday.

The hosts piled on the pressure from the first with the midfield and attack leading the charge. Pressing high, Henley were able to pin the Hawks defence back and win a couple of short corners. Despite getting shots on target, the Hawks defence stood firm.

The breakthrough came in the second quarter after Charlotte Heatherington charged down a Hawks pass, causing the ball to bounce free and her stick to fly out of her hand. Lucy Wiseman pounced, picking up the ball and driving from the left, beating players and entering the top of the D, drawing the Hawks defence towards her where she threaded the ball through to Heatherington who, unmarked on the left post, slapped the ball home.

Oxford created their own pressure but the Henley defence, led by young keeper Anjana Sothynathan, were equal to the task.

For a while, the game swung to and fro and during one attacking phase, Henley’s Emma Jean-Jean carried the ball into the circle only to be felled by a Hawks defender and a penalty stroke was awarded. Jean-Jean stepped forward but her attempt to double the lead was thwarted when the ball ricocheted off the left post.

This made for a tense final quarter when Henley conceded a penalty corner on the final whistle but the home defence was able to stand firm once again and with Heatherington cleared the ball.

HENLEY LADIES 2nds eased to a comfortable 6-0 Division 2 North win at home to AMERSHAM AND CHALFONT 3rds.

Henley started brightly, pressing hard and creating space all over the pitch and netted three first-half goals. Hayley Munt opened the scoring, Chloe Lyons added the second before Amelie Bayfield rounded off the half with a well-taken third — all three goals born out of good link-up play and relentless pressure.

In the second half creativity flowed while the defence stayed solid, snuffing out any threats and feeding quality ball through the lines.

Henley continued to dominate, and the goals kept coming. Lyons and Bayfield each doubled their tally, both showing great composure in front of goal. To cap off a fine team display, captain Emma Buckham-Hedges fired home her first goal of the season.

In Division 2 Thames, HENLEY LADIES 3rds picked up a point as they drew 2-2 at WYCOMBE LADIES 4ths.

Henley conceded an early goal but regrouped, and a well-worked move saw Fleur Wood pass the ball to Jo Corbett, who found player-of-the-match Maeve Moorcroft who fired home to level the scores. Henley maintained pressure throughout the first half, with Fiona Dunn anchoring the defence solidly and their persistence paid off with a series of short corners, the final one leading to Ingrid Johnston-Leene scoring with a slick slip-left dummy goal.

Wycombe responded with a strong strike from a short corner of their own, bringing the score to 2-2.

Despite good link-up play between captain Charlotte Irving, Jo Corbett, Poppy Williams and Maeve Moorcroft, Henley couldn’t break through again, as Wycombe’s goalkeeper made several impressive saves to deny further goals.

In Division 4 Thames, HENLEY LADIES 4ths eased to an 8-1 home win against WYCOMBE LADIES 6ths.

Henley started the match with a high press as skipper Ali Jean-Jean drove down the right line to cross the ball to Charlotte Clarke who slotted home. Henley remained dominant in Wycombe’s half before Clarke found the back of the net again after
14 minutes. Tactical discipline from Henley saw the ball move from defence to attack within three passes to allow Tilly Alderton to find Charlotte Moore at the top of the D who, taking on the keeper in a one-on-one, made it 3-0.

Clarke made it 4-0 followed quickly with a fifth goal by Alderton. Henley keeper Georgie Grocock and her defence were then tested as Wycombe pulled a goal back just before half-time.

In the second half, good link-up play from Lyra Jones and Kat Green allowed Autumn Renshaw in midfield to send the ball to Bea Watts, who burst forward with intent to put Henley 6-1 up.

Changing tactics, Wycombe concentrated their players high in their own half, but failed to stop Tara Chesters consistently winning the ball and pushing into attacking territory forcing numerous long corners. With the Henley front line struggling to convert, Green stepped up from defence and deftly moved past the Wycombe rear guard to score her side’s seventh of the match. Late in the game Clarke crossed the ball to Amy Hill on the post who wrapped up the scoring.