Despite having five players unavailable, Henley simply had too much for Old Newton, blowing them away with a superb display of quick, passing football, much to the delight to the large band of travelling Ultras.
Straight from the whistle Henley were on the attack, forcing a save in the opening minute from young Newton keeper Moss. The pressure soon told when Henley took the lead after 8 minutes, Reid finding George Ablitt who played a through ball to release Liam Ablitt, he raced through one on one and slotted home for 0-1. On 18 minutes it was 0-2, Bruce receiving the ball with his back to goal just inside the Newton half, turning and hitting a diagonal ball which bisected the defence, picking out George Ablitt, who ran through and gleefully passed it by the keeper.
6 minutes which defined the game started on 40 minutes when George Ablitt found brother Liam out wide, his pinpoint cross saw the rarest of things, a close range, headed goal from Clark Bruce for 0-3. On 43 minutes Bruce cut in from the left, beat his man and fired into the bottom corner for 0-4, but he still wasn’t finished. In time added on, Reid went on a mazy run into the box, beating one defender, but was clipped by a second, he tried to stay on his feet but his balance was gone and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Bruce to slam home the spot kick, eclipsing his 11 minute hat-trick last week, with a 6 minute one this week taking the score to 0-5 at HT.
With the game effectively already over, Newton came out and gave a much more solid performance in the 2nd half, playing for both pride and their manager. However, Henley still dominated, with stand in keeper, Jones, not having a real save to make all game. Newton held out until mid-way through the half, when Tejano, who’d been excellent in midfield all game, picked his spot from 25 yards out and curled one in the corner for 0-6. There was still time for Bruce to add to his collection, a classic low drive giving him his 4th of the day and making the final score 0-7.
Whilst it’s correct to say that Old Newton were far from their best, and missing a few as well, take nothing away from this Henley performance. Totally in control throughout and creating chances all game, Newton simply couldn’t handle their pace and power. Whilst MOTM rightly went to Bruce, how can it not when the guy scored 4! Much praise also goes to Tejano and Reid who both oozed class throughout and to the Ablitt brothers, who thoroughly tormented the Newton defence. All in all and fantastic team effort.