Progress into the next round of SFA Senior Cup

Henley’s team bus managed to stay out of the ditches on the short journey to local rivals Claydon, a game which saw the visitors dominate throughout and deservedly record a 0-5 victory.

Henley pressed from the off, Thrower’s deflected effort bringing a fine save from Lockwood early on, the Claydon keeper forced into an even better one after 10 minutes to tip a Storey volley round the post. Henley took the lead after 13 minutes, Thrower playing the ball back into the box after an initial corner was cleared and Storey looping his header over the keeper for 0-1. Ten minutes later Henley increased their lead, a terrific ball from Thrower finding George Ablitt, beating his man, he cut inside and spun, firing in a left foot strike for 0-2. The game was pretty much sealed on the 37^th minute, George Ablitt picked out brother Liam, his left foot strike came off the foot of the post, but a marauding Reid was there to finish and make it 0-3 at HT.

The second half continued in a similar vein, Henley’s midfield of Cowan, Tejano and Van Oene dominating play. After 55 minutes Henley made it 0-4 Tejano scoring with a glancing near post header from a corner by the Henley number 9. Mid half George Ablitt raced through but saw his effort ricochet back off the post, but minutes later he was brought down in the box and Gavin Van Oene stepped up to slam home the resultant penalty for 0-5. Claydon kept going and forced Lynch into his first real saves of the game late on, indeed, before that the Henley half was so devoid of players, that much to our Chairman’s delight a flock of seagulls landed and settled down in the space, but any resistance they had faded when Buxton saw a red card in the closing minutes.

A great team performance from the Henley squad against a surprisingly lacklustre Claydon, for whom only Cole shone on the day. The Henley Ultra’s MOTM award went to George Ablitt who narrowly pipped the midfield three in the voting. A mention too for referee Paul Kitson and his team, a calm and controlled display of game management.