Written By : Tony Stone on 24/10/2022

Categories: Match Report

A crowd of 59, swelled by a good number of travelling Ultras, saw Henley’s best performance of the season so far, which resulted in a 0-7 win.

Leiston pressed hard early on, forcing a couple of corners in the opening minutes, but Henley soon took control, Watling forcing the first save of the game after 6 minutes. Henley had a succession of corners, Bell heading just wide from one after 13 minutes. The Henley press was rewarded after 20 minutes, a cross field ball headed down by Watling to Hammond, who drove home from the edge of the box, his first Henley goal, making it 0-1. After 34 minutes it was 0-2, a diagonal ball from Bull, well controlled by Watling, who laid it off to Ablitt, a touch to beat his man before picking his spot.

Leiston were still well in the game and playing some nice stuff, Silver bringing a fingertip save from Holland to tip his shot onto the post and away to safety. But it was Henley who finished the half the stronger, Hammond and Watling combining to find Bruce, who saw his shot well saved to keep the score 0-2 at HT.

A knock to Shore saw Henley forced into a change over the break, Van Oene coming on, for his first full half after his return from injury. Henley were totally dominant now and increased their lead to 0-3 on 47 minutes, Van Oene turning neatly to lose his marker, finding Ablitt who’s cross was headed home by Storey. On 57 minutes a defence splitting ball from Van Oene found Watling, he took it round the keeper and slotted home for 0-4. On 72 minutes Ablitt cut in, only to be clearly felled in the box, Bruce making no mistake with the subsequent spot kick for 0-5.

Henley were cruising now, Field bundling the ball home at the back post from a Bruce corner for 0-6 after 85 minutes. To their credit, Leiston kept trying, Holland needing to make another good stop to maintain his clean sheet late in the game. Bruce should’ve had his 2nd a minute or two later, his goalbound shot ruled out by a whistle whilst in the air, to allow treatment for the home keeper. The frustration at this decision was short-lived, eradicated as it was by a 90thminute goal from Field, good link up between Bruce, Tejano and Van Oene, finished by a fine half volley from the edge of the area to make the final score 0-7.

Today’s performance, from the whole team, comfortably bettered any so far this season, the midfield controlling the game and the defence snuffing out any threat. The forward line worked hard, Bruce in particular always wanting the ball and at the heart of everything going forward. But the Ultra’s vote was a unanimous one, Cowan’s utterly relentless domination of the midfield seeing him receive the MOTM award.

Leiston are a good side, much improved over last season and in a good run of form, they’ll not have to face any threat of relegation this season, despite the scoreline, they kept going and played the game in the right way throughout.