Granger-Holcombe late goal helps side get back on track

HENLEY LADIES 1sts returned to winning ways as they triumphed 2-1 at OXFORD LADIES 1sts in last Saturday’s South Central Premier Division 1 clash.

Henley started brightly with Charlotte Hetherington turning with the ball to give a precise pass to Caitlin Barrass who shot wide.

Oxford slowly fought back and eventually managed to get the ball into Henley’s half, but some strong tackles by Maisie Robinson and Rachel Herbert in defence meant they couldn’t get a shot at Henley’s goalkeeper Anjana Sothynathan.

After a stick tackle in their defending quarter, the blues won a short corner which resulted in them taking the lead.

Henley consistently put the home side under pressure with Kiera Halloran on the wing and Ella Shute in the forward line working together to deny Oxford any attack.

The hard work paid off in the second half with Halloran intercepting the ball and using her speed to get into Oxford’s D and win a short corner. An accurate injection by Hetherington to Charlotte Granger-Holcombe at the top of the D lined Herbert up to fired the ball at the blues goalkeeper who scrappily cleared it but it landed to Lucy Wiseman who pounced to reclaim possession and fire home the equaliser.

After some tactical switching play between Lucy Jean-Jean, Herbert and Mel Joyce in the defensive line, Joyce was able to find Granger-Holcombe in the middle who won a free hit. The quick ball enabled Henley to find Emma Jean-Jean on the left who skilfully went past two Oxford players to reach the baseline and pass across the congested D to find Granger-Holcombe on the back post who slipped it past the goalkeeper to give Henley the lead with just three minutes left on the clock.

In Division 2 North, HENLEY LADIES 2nds drew 3-3 at home to MARLOW LADIES 3rds.

Facing a Marlow side recently relegated from the league above, Henley matched their opponents throughout in what proved to be a high-tempo, end-to-end battle.

Henley started brightly, having the first push back and immediately putting pressure on the Marlow defence. Their early dominance paid off within the opening six minutes when Lily Baker capitalised on a ball into the D, calmly slotting it past the Marlow goalkeeper to give Henley the lead.

Maintaining the momentum, Henley spent the next 15 minutes camped in Marlow’s half. A slick passing move found Hayley Munt at the top of the D, who unleashed a shot only to be denied by a strong save from the Marlow keeper.

Marlow began to find their rhythm and responded with increasing pressure resulting in some uncharacteristic lapses in Henley’s defence which allowed the visitors to claw their way back into the game. A well-taken goal levelled the score followed by two quick strikes before half-time which left Henley trailing 3-1.

In the second half the home side created several chances, with the Marlow keeper again called into action. The pressure eventually paid off when the ball broke loose near the goal line and Munt reacted quickest to scoop it into the net.

As the match wore on, both sides pushed for more goals, with Henley’s defence working hard to get back and some good saves made by keeper, Georgie Grocock, creating an exciting and open contest.

Henley continued to threaten in Marlow’s final third, winning a couple of short corners. One such effort saw Munt again strike from the top of the D, beating the keeper only to be saved on the line by a Marlow defender but Lily Baker was perfectly placed to follow up and smash home the rebound.

Despite chances at both ends in the final minutes, neither side could find a winner.

HENLEY LADIES 3rds ran out 4-1 winners at YATELEY 2nds in their Division 2 Thames encounter.

Henley opened the scoring when strong midfield play from Jo Corbett saw her take the ball down to the baseline and feed it across the D to the waiting stick of Ingrid Johnston-Leene to tap into the back of the net.

Steph Rowe-Elliott showed great strength in midfield creating some great passages of play, linking with Maeve Moorcroft who executed some lovely dribbling work down the wing.

Henley’s second goal came from Johnston-Leene again but this time the ball was provided via the swift work of Lizzie Briscoe, whose composure saw her feed the ball across the circle for another cool finish. Henley went into half-time with great confidence, believing this game was theirs for the taking.

It was Rowe-Elliott that found Henley’s third goal, when, entering the circle, her powerful shot was found to be unsavable for the Yateley keeper.

The away side rallied and after winning a short corner, clawed back one goal, however, Henley were not to be stopped. Flo Hughes and Fleur Wood made some great interceptions and it was not long before Corbett scored the fourth goal for Henley in open play. Some fluid passing hockey with some great interplay ensure that this became a well-deserved victory for the team.

In Division 4 Thames, HENLEY LADIES 4ths were given the win at WINDSOR 5ths who were unable to raise enough players for the fixture.

In a hastily arranged friendly match, Henley ran out 2-1 winners against a Windsor side of second and third team players.

The first 10 minutes saw both teams control the ball well, with neither side able to break the other down. After 13 minutes, a short corner was awarded, and Kat Green stepped up and scored from the edge of the D.

Henley spent the next
15 minutes absorbing pressure from Windsor and some short corners followed with good saves from Sophia Price in goal, ably assisted by her defensive team with Kitty Pivonka making a goal-line clearance.

Windsor showed their intent at the start of the second half with several more experienced players involved. Isla Hallett made some crucial tackles before the hosts pulled a goal back.

Almost immediately after the goal, Windsor had another short corner but this time Henley continued to hold. Ali Jean-Jean and Bea Watts moved the ball around the midfield, creating some Henley attacks and it was then the visitors’ turn to go up through the gears again.

Four short corners to Henley followed before Henley won a penalty flick which Watts converted.