Written By : Tony Stone on 20/02/2023

Categories: Match Report

A crowd of 72, boosted by a large contingent of travelling Henley Ultras, watched Henley break Somersham hearts with a last minute winner that saw them progress to the semi-finals.

The opening half saw Henley struggle to deal with both Somersham’s direct, dynamic style and the infamous slope, the home side knowing how to maximise their home advantage, whereas Henley, playing downhill, saw everything run away from them. With Henley striving to get their passing game going, it was Somersham who had the 1st big chance, Dixon having to fly out of his goal to save with his legs after 15 minutes. But there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop Somersham’s opener, an absolute thunderbolt of a strike from Perry after 24 minutes, fully 25 yards out, he simply smashed it into the top corner for 1-0. Henley tried to find a way back into the game, but some determined defending maintained Somersham’s lead at HT.

Henley looked much better in the 2nd half, moving the ball quickly, finding some width, the chances started to come, home keeper Martin pulling off a good stop to deny Ablitt. On 60 minutes Martin was in action again, making a great save to block from Bruce, a defender throwing himself into the path of Bruce’s close range follow up. But nothing could have stopped Ablitt’s volleyed drive from the rebound, rifled into the top corner on 60 minutes for 1-1. Henley looked the more likely at this stage, Martin again the home hero, saving a fierce header from Field. But yet again it was the home side that took the lead, a long free kick, initially blocked, but Warner was on hand to thump home the rebound from close range to make it 2-1 after 68 minutes.

But Henley, as they have so often shown, don’t know when they’re beaten, and yet again were level after 75 minutes, Van Oene on the end of an Ablitt corner, with an absolute bullet of a header making it 2-2. Both sides kept looking for a winner, and it took a fine save, low to his left, from Dixon to keep what looked like a certain goal out in the 88th minute. With penalties looming in the 90th minute, the Henley management threw Bradlaugh back into the fray, with his 1st touch he fired home from Field’s knock on from a Hammond throw to make it 2-3 at FT.

A tough battle, on a notoriously tricky pitch, but the real credit goes to an excellent Somersham side, with plenty of Senior quality throughout, who were absolutely up for the challenge, should they get promotion, they’ll be a great addition to the Senior division, we wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

Another big test for Henley, yet again an occasion where showing character and strength was just as important as quality. Somersham fully tested that mettle, but Henley weren’t found wanting, the whole squad battling all across the pitch. Ablitt’s skill and Tejano’s work rate were both noteworthy, but it was Van Oene who drew the Ultra’s MOTM vote with an all action performance.