Skipper helps promotion push with three-goal masterclass

HENLEY 1sts maintained their South Central Open Premier Division 2 promotion push last Saturday as they defeated visitors OXFORD HAWKS 3rds 5-1 at Jubilee Park thanks to goals from Sam Heaver and Geoff Joseph and a hat-trick from Ed Foster.

Skipper Foster opened the scoring after 20 minutes, through a well-worked penalty corner routine involving Fergus Heggie and then doubled the lead with his second of the day five minutes later, slapping the ball high into the roof of the Hawks’ goal following a flowing move down the left wing including Phil Laurie and Rhys Joyce.

Sam Heaver added a third two minutes later, drilling the ball into the roof of the net after another well-worked penalty corner routine.

Hawks pulled a breakaway goal back just before the half-time interval, but this provided to be a consolation goal, as Henley added two further goals in the second half.

Joseph scored the first with
15 minutes left to play, expertly finishing off a flowing move for the amber and blues.

Foster sealed his hat-trick with five minutes remaining, dispatching a penalty corner drag flick past the away side’s goalkeeper. HENLEY 2nds secured all three Division 2 North points with a 4-1 win at Reading University against PHOENIX READING 1sts.

Making his first start up front, Harry Alderton scored twice and provided an assist in a clinical first-half display. Robbie Farina also maintained his impressive goal-scoring form, adding a brace of his own as Henley raced into control of the contest.

All five goals came in a high-tempo first half from open play, as Henley’s attacking movement and clinical finishing overwhelmed the hosts and put the visitors in a commanding position by the break.

The second half proved far more cagey, with both sides struggling to retain possession and chances at a premium. Henley managed the game well and the first-half flurry was more than enough to secure all three points.

In Division 4 North, HENLEY 3rds remain winless and bottom of the table after going down to a 3-1 home defeat against SONNING 3rds.

HENLEY 4ths went down to a 3-1 defeat at Division 1 Thames league leaders EASTCOTE 4ths. From the first whistle, the home side set the tone, applying sustained pressure that kept Henley pinned deep in their own half for long periods. Eastcote’s early dominance was eventually rewarded in the first quarter, a long cross-field pass finding an unmarked attacker who finished calmly.

Henley were indebted to goalkeeper and player-of-the-match Tomas Chamberlain whose series of fine saves prevented the scoreline from widening.

Despite brief spells of composure and some positive passages of play, Henley struggled to relieve the pressure and Eastcote added a second goal before half-time.

The second half was more evenly contested as Henley began to move the ball with greater confidence, switching play across the pitch but any hopes of a sustained comeback were ended when Eastcote struck again to extend their lead.

Henley netted a consolation goal with a well-worked team move culminating in Neill Emmett calmly guiding the ball past the Eastcote goalkeeper.

In Division 3 Thames, HENLEY 5ths crashed to a 3-1 defeat away at promotion chasing AMERSHAM AND CHALFONT 7ths. Henley started well, generating pace and precision with crisp passing between a midfield dominated by Piers and James Edgell, Jon Williams and Simon Ward, and creating early balls to the front three of Sam Austin, Shanx Tandon and Bryn Balcombe.

One of the impressive early Henley moves saw Austin find Piers Edgell into the D, and smart stick in a goalface scramble work allowed him to nudge the visitors ahead.

Amersham and Chalfont began to apply pressure and move forward. The back three of returning Mark Newman, Adam Warner and Dan Bradbury made some good interventions, supporting goalkeeper Ed Hems, whose work with feet and hands not only kept the ball in play but also created good distribution. These attacks became more pressing and Henley were unlucky to concede two penalty flicks — one on the stroke of half-time which was almost saved by Hems.

The introduction of Simon Taylor into midfield added strength and allowed Henley to begin rotating players in the second half. Good running by Austin, J Edgell and Balcombe kept Amersham under pressure but despite that pressure, Amersham were able to sneak a ball into the D and the lightest of deflections saw it nudge into the goal.