Barrass keeps her cool to see off Salisbury challenge

HENLEY LADIES 1sts ran out 2-1 winners at SALISBURY 1sts in their South Central Women’s Premier Division 1 clash last Saturday.

Henley applied relentless pressure, driving forward with some good counterattacks down the left from Lucy Wiseman and forcing errors from the Salisbury back line through Ella Shute’s pressing.

Despite a quick Salisbury breakaway, Anjana Sothynathan made a crucial one-on-one save to keep the scores level.

In the second quarter, Caitlin Barrass’s interception and pass to Emma Jean-Jean led to a penalty flick after a defender stopped the shot with a foot on the line. Billie Moore converted to give Henley a 1-0 half-time lead.

Salisbury equalised in the third quarter with a scrappy goal, turning the match into a tense and physical contest.

As the pressure mounted, Salisbury began to rely on long passes, but captain Charlotte Granger-Holcombe was outstanding in midfield.

Henley regained control in the final quarter when Rachel Herbert sliced through the Salisbury press with a perfectly weighted pass to Caitlin Barrass, who went one-on-one with the keeper to strike home the winning goal.

HENLEY LADIES 2nds ran out 3-0 winners in their Division 2 North clash at WALLINGFORD 2nds.

From the first whistle Henley dominated possession and territory. The Wallingford keeper was quickly called into action, pulling off a string of outstanding saves to keep the score level in the early stages.

Henley’s pressure continued to mount, with Anna Wray and Sophie Miller causing chaos down the right flank with their overlapping runs, and Emma Joseph and Olivia Callaway driving the team forward through the midfield with clever attacking play.

The breakthrough came when Henley won a short corner. A slick left slip found captain Emma Buckham-Hedges, whose first shot was blocked, but she reacted instantly to slam the rebound through the keeper’s legs.

Wallingford threatened occasionally on the counter, but Henley’s defence stood firm.

In the second half Henley’s persistence paid off when Emma Joseph delivered a good ball into the D that was met by Jenny Buckham-Hedges, who deftly deflected it into the goal to double the lead. Henley’s third came 10 minutes from time when Hayley Munt made a run forward before feeding Jenny Buckham-Hedges, who took the ball on her reverse stick and buried it past the keeper.

In Division 2 Thames, HENLEY 3rds ran out 3-1 winners at home to SONNING 4ths, controlling the game from start to finish with the hosts’ defensive trio of Martha Peach, Fi Dunn and Ang Botha ensuring the opposition posed little threat.

The opening goal showcased Henley’s fluid play, starting from the back and moving through midfield before Jo Corbett set up Jules Tomlinson to fire home.

Henley doubled their lead when Corbett skilfully navigated the Sonning defence, drawing the keeper out before passing back to Tomlinson, who calmly slotted home her second.

The third goal saw Corbett executing a back-stick flick, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Sonning managed a late consolation from a well-worked short corner, but Henley’s dominance never wavered.

HENLEY LADIES 4ths, despite not having goalkeeper, ran out 5-2 winners in their Division 4 Thames clash at SLOUGH 4ths.

Henley took the lead on seven whens when skipper Ali Jean-Jean converted from a short corner.

Katherine Alderton extended the visitors lead when she received the ball from the right and drove it straight and hard into the back of the net from the penalty spot.

A lapse in concentration allowed Slough to push through the midfield and past the defence to score into an open goal.

Henley responded with a relentless hard press up the pitch and Charlotte Clarke lifted the ball high over the head of the keeper to put her side 3-1 up at half-time.

In the second half Henley held possession well, but couldn’t quite convert until Emilia, driving the ball through the middle, arrived at the top of the D to push the ball past the keeper for 4-1. Slough rallied and pressed hard to pull a goal back.

Late in the game, following some short corners, Tilly Alderton wrapped up the scoring for the visitors.