A crowd of 101 saw a rather disjointed Henley run out 3-0 winners against a determined Westerfield, in a game where the points, were more important than the performance.
Henley took the lead after only 4 minutes, Cowan given far too much time in his own half, to pick out a fantastic raking, 50 yard diagonal pass into the run of Liam Ablitt, who nicked it past the onrushing keeper for 1-0. Westerfield kept their heads and went straight up the other end, Hughes blazing over from 12 yards, before George Ablitt pushing his cheeky effort just wide. A late challenge caused an outbreak of handbags which saw 4 booked, 2 from each side seeing yellow. Not long after a shot cum cross from Dye cannoned of the face of the Westerfield bar.
On 38 minutes it was 2-0 to Henley a cross from Liam Ablitt to brother George who laid the ball off to Gavin Van Oene who smashed a fantastic half-volley into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance. Westerfield were still well in the game however, Lynch having to be on his toes to tip over a goal bound header from Hughes just before the break.
After HT Westerfield had their best spell of the game, keeping possession and passing neatly, but failed to really penetrate the home defence. Ablitt and Watling both came close after their pressing game won possession inside the Westerfield box but were denied by a fine save and block. Westerfield had their best chance of the game, with Hughes picking up a cross 8 yards out, but his shot was well saved by Lynch. Henley finally put the result beyond question in the 90th minute when Watling and Clayton-Leeks combined to release Bruce, who clipped his effort over the keeper for 3-0.
Not the best Henley performance, by a long chalk, but they still did enough to take the points and keep a clean sheet. As for Westerfield, their performance makes a mockery of their league position, definitely one of the better sides we’ve faced so far this season. Pottsy has them well organised and playing nice, neat passing football, they’ll cause many a side problems.
The Ultras awarded the MOTM vote to Jamie Cowan, who is back to his dynamic best, but Tejano and Lynch ran him close. A solid showing from our back four too, Storey, Driver, Smythe and Dye all working their socks off.