Written By : Tony Stone on 14/03/2022

Categories: Match Report

59 Spectators enjoyed a tight game at the Victory ground, with Division 1 Sporting recording a deserved cup win over Senior side Henley

Sporting got off to the best possible of starts, taking a lead with a goal after only 15 seconds, and what a goal it was! A long ball out from the back, the flick on, lifted over the visitor’s defence by the wind, was absolutely smashed in by Taylor-Footer with a superb 20 yard half volley in off the underside of the bar for a 1-0 lead. As Henley recovered from the shock, Sporting had opportunities to increase their lead but failed to take advantage of them. This looked to have proved costly after 25 minutes when Henley equalised, Liam Ablitt hitting a precise diagonal ball to pick out Bruce, who in typical fashion, quickly controlled and slotted home. Sporting continued to look dangerous, sending a couple of efforts over and wide, whilst at the other end in the 40 minute Henley came close to scoring in a goalmouth scramble that saw the home defence bravely clear off the line twice, leaving the score 1-1 at HT

In a similar vein to the first half, the 2nd opened with Henley again conceding an early goal after 48 minutes, when a mix up at the back was capitalised on by Salisbury who finished well from just inside the area for 2-1. Emotions ran high in the Henley camp after 60 minutes, when Tejano rose highest to flick home a header, over the head of the defender behind him, for what should have been the equaliser, initially awarded by the referee, it was disallowed for offside after consultation with his assistant. At the time it seemed it was Bruce, who was following the ball in, that harshly caused the flag to be raised, but post match the officials revealed it was Tejano who was deemed offside. Frustrating as it was, to see a perfectly good goal chalked off, it seemed a legitimate error and we made plenty of those today as well. We’re looking forward to seeing the video footage.

Henley pushed hard to find a route back into the game, but couldn’t find a way through the well organised home defence and Sporting held on for the win, that their effort, commitment and play deserved. All at Henley wish them luck in the semi-final and hope to see them grace the Senior League next season.