Skipper scores double in battle with county rivals

HENLEY 1sts drew their top of their South Central Open Premier Division 2 promotion clash with WITNEY 2-2 at Jubilee Park last Saturday.

The home side’s early dominance was rewarded after
12 minutes when captain Ed Foster’s penalty corner drag flick rifled past the Witney goalkeeper.

Five minutes before half-time Witney equalised with a penalty corner drag flick of their own.

The second half was an even encounter, with both teams having opportunities to add to the score line. Witney took the lead on the 60 minute mark through a penalty corner flick, which Rhys Joyce was unlucky not to keep out on the goal line.

Henley fought back well and found an equaliser with
10 minutes left to play, again through Foster with another penalty corner drag flick, taking his goal tally up to 12 for the season.

Despite chances for either side to take all three points, neither were able to convert them, with the sides having to share the points after 70 minutes.

HENLEY 2nds suffered their heaviest defeat of the season when they went down 5-1 at STAINES 2nds in their Division 2 North encounter.

Having won the reverse fixture 2–1 earlier in the campaign, Henley arrived confident, but it was Staines who set the tempo from the first whistle.

Sharp reactions and ruthless finishing inside the D saw the hosts capitalise on a series of loose balls, racing into a commanding 3-0 lead by half-time. Henley showed greater composure after the break and worked hard to stem the tide. Their persistence was eventually rewarded late on, when Brandon Smith converted a well-worked penalty corner to pull a goal back.

However, the deficit proved too great to overturn as Staines comfortably saw out the game.

In Division 1 Thames, HENLEY 4ths went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at MARLOW 6ths.

Henley played their best hockey in the first half, with some well-worked moves down the right flank but were unable to capitalise on the pressure they put the hosts under.

Marlow reacted as the game entered the second quarter and had a handful of short concerns, scoring from the third of three in quick succession, with a well-worked routine. Henley started the second half well and dominated much of the play with Guy Harmer and Tim Barrass putting the hosts under pressure.

Harmer went close on a couple of occasions and only a sharp save from the young Marlow keeper kept out a short corner strike from skipper Jon Grocock.

HENLEY 5ths fell to a 2-0 Division 3 Thames defeat at SONNING 5ths in a competitive encounter.

Henley showed strong intent throughout the match and created a number of promising opportunities, moving the ball well into attacking areas but they were unable to convert their chances, with Sonning’s defence holding firm at key moments. At the back, Ed Newbold delivered a fine performance in goal, making several important saves to keep Henley in contention. In midfield and on the left wing respectively, Shanx Tandon and JP Watts worked tirelessly to limit Sonning’s attacking threat.

In midfield, Dan Austin was instrumental at the base of the diamond, holding things together and providing the ball to the forwards and right half Zac Viney who impressed with his energy and distribution.

Sonning eventually made their pressure count with two well-taken goals, capitalising on moments when Henley were unable to clear their lines.