Free-scoring Henley 4ths wrap up title with month to spare

HENLEY LADIES 1sts ran out 2-0 home winners against South Central Women’s Premier Division 1 basement side SALISBURY 1sts last Saturday.

From the first whistle, Henley showed intent as decisive passing through the middle carved open opportunities, finding Caitlin Barrass and Ella Shute high up the pitch.

The forward line battled hard in the D, and it was Shute who made the breakthrough, reacting sharply in a crowded circle to slot the ball home.

Henley continued to press, creating chance after chance. The structure across the pitch was impressive, with disciplined positioning and intelligent movement keeping Salisbury on the back foot. The returning Pippi Heath added composure to the midfield, linking play and providing a solid platform to build from. Charlotte Hetherington was relentless throughout.

The home side’s pressure converted in to numerous short corners which they couldn’t quite convert from set pieces. Henley continued to dominate possession and territory, with the defence staying organised and resolute to preserve the clean sheet.

Captain Charlotte Granger Holcombe’s immense work rate right into the closing stages of the game finally paid off when a turnover led to a one-on-one opportunity with the pass finding Barrass. The youngster drove towards goal, and was fouled by the keeper but with advantage being played, Henley kept their composure and a body on the line earned the home side a penalty flick. With the final whistle blown, Billie Moore stepped up and made no mistake, firing home to double the lead.

Division 2 North league leaders HENLEY LADIES 2nds eased to a 4-0 home win against relegation-threatened WALLINGFORD 2nds.

Henley started brightly and put pressure on the Wallingford defence who struggled to clear their lines. A short corner a few minutes into the game saw Chloe Lyons exchange a neat one-two with Kirsten Botha and slot home to open the scoring.

Relentless pressure from Henley saw further shots and D entries ensue but Wallingford managed to gain a foothold in the game and started attacking themselves but good defending from Sophie Miller, Giorgia Fiorentino and Izzy Woolfrey and a couple of goal-line scraps kept the hosts ahead.

Henley regained their composure and dominance with some energy from the bench. Botha started to snuff out Wallingford’s midfield and Ellie Roseff came on to assist, dominating the middle of the pitch. Henley started attacking again with good wing play by player of the match Bethan Lewis and the speedy Lily Baker.

Henley’s forward trio of Lyons, Hayley Munt and Emma Buckham-Hedges begun to get more of the ball, and linking play saw Wallingford’s goalkeeper make some good saves with midfielder Sophy Rogers coming close at the back post.

Just before half-time Henley made it 2-0, Lyons hammering a short corner straight strike into the bottom corner. The third goal came from another driving run by Baker, her shot deflected up to head height off a defensive stick. The ball fell to Lyons who controlled it down and dispatched it into the bottom corner.

Henley made it 4-0 from another well-worked short corner — Lyons slapping the ball back to injector Rogers, who calmly found the net from her own rebounded initial shot.

Henley remain six points clear at the top of the table with four matches remaining.

HENLEY LADIES 3rds remain second in Division 2 Thames after running out 3-0 winners at SONNING 4ths.

Henley controlled early possession, moving the ball cleanly through midfield and setting the tempo. Their dominance paid off after
20 minutes when Rosie Wilkinson finished a flowing passing move by striking the ball calmly past the keeper.

Continued pressure earned Henley a short corner, and a well-‑rehearsed routine saw Wilkinson push out to Jo Corbett at the top of the D, who slipped the ball right for player-of-the-match Jules Tomlinson to outsmart the keeper for 2-0.

Five minutes later, an identical short corner move delivered Henley’s third, with Corbett again feeding Tomlinson to slot home.

Sonning responded strongly after the break, attacking through their central playmaker, but the defensive trio of Florence Moorcroft, Emily Mir and Fi Dunn shut them out.

Henley continued to stretch play through wide runs from Fleur Wood and Maeve Moorcroft. The win extended Henley’s unbeaten run to
15 games and leaves them two points behind league leaders Marlow 5ths with four matches remaining.

Unbeaten HENLEY LADIES 4ths, who have dominated Division 4 Thames all season, wrapped up promotion and the league title after thrashing visitors SLOUGH 4ths 8-0.

Henley’s remarkable achievement in their debut season has seen them win all 18 matches played so far with an astonishing goal difference of plus 105 having scored 109 and conceded just four.

The home side delivered a performance of control, composure and attacking precision to confirm themselves as champions with more than a month of hockey left to play.

Uncharacteristically for the home side, it was Slough who threatened early, winning a short corner inside the opening minute, but Henley’s defence, led by Kat Green, absorbed the pressure.

As the nerves settled, the hosts began to dictate the match with Jenny Ovstedal neutralising Slough’s aerial passes, sending the ball forwards and allowing Katherine Alderton to open the scoring, before captain Ali Jean-Jean doubled the advantage with a clinical finish across the goal. A sharp short corner routine allowed Bea Watts to add a third before half-time, giving Henley a firm grip on the match.

The second half showcased Henley’s growing confidence as Tilly Alderton struck twice in quick succession, capitalising on sustained pressure in the circle and Katherine Alderton added a sixth following a powerful drive into the D by Watts.

Slough’s best spell came on the counter, but a superb last-ditch recovery tackle from midfielder Nicola Nott and two composed saves from goalkeeper Jasmine Hillyard ensured Henley’s clean sheet remained intact.

The home side made it 7-0 with Katherine Alderton finishing a move at the back post.

In the closing stages, Henley continued to press, and Ali Jean-Jean completed the scoring with her second of the match.