Leiston SM Vs Henley Athl

A crowd of 69 enjoyed a competitive contest, with Henley triumphing over a much-revitalised LSMFC.

Leiston were fired up and almost took Henley by surprise with a couple of good early attacks, but Holland was up to the task. A rusty looking Henley gradually took control and although LSM continually looked dangerous on the break, soon pegged the home side back with efforts from George Ablitt, Van Oene, Reid, Bruce, Tejano and Cowan all coming close. However huge commitment and brave defending from Leiston kept Henley out until the 41^st minute, when Miller was, quite harshly, adjudged to have felled Cowan and Bruce despatched the subsequent penalty with his usual aplomb for 0-1. Two minutes later it was 0-2, Bruce’s driven free kick from the edge of the area, rebounded off the foot of the post where Watling was on hand to prod it home.

The 2nd half followed much the same pattern as the 1^st, with Henley pressing to increase their lead, but as in the 1^st, LSM were still creating chances. At the home end Miller saved twice from Ablitt and tipped round a header from Cowan. In the 65^th minute the Henley Ultras nearly got the goal from Shore, complete with it’s promised pitch invasion, which they’ve been waiting 61 games for. But his two drives were beaten away, then blocked, but he was still able to lay the ball into the path of Watling, who picked his spot and slotted home for 0-3. Henley came close again on 75 minutes, Gav Van Oene smashing a 30 yard strike onto the bar. On 85 minutes, Miller made a breathtaking close range save to deny Bull who had run onto a pinpoint Liam Ablitt pass. In the 90^th minute LSM were rewarded with the consolation goal that their effort and commitment fully deserved, Silver taking advantage of a misplaced pass before finishing well to make it 1-3.  However there was still time for Thrower to show his class with a brilliant curling effort from 25 yards into the top corner on 93 minutes to make the final score 1-4.

It took a while for Henley to get going, but when they did, they had enough quality to win, however the victory was far from easy, LSM are a completely changed side from the one we faced in the season opener, they’ve obviously been busy recruiting and have created an energetic, organised and committed side, who never let their heads drop for a minute. Despite their position, if they play like this every week, they’ll stand a great chance of staying up. For Henley, Shore shone when he came on, Bruce worked his socks off and Storey oozed class, but it was Gav Van Oene who took the Ultra’s MOTM vote, he controlled the midfield and was at the heart of everything on the day.