Henley Triumph over East Bergholt United

A fierce contest, with some fine football on display from both sides was enjoyed by a crowd of 83 at the Community Centre. At 14.20 we were still without a referee due to an administrative mix up, but by sterling work from Keith Norton and Daryl Butcher of the SIL, saw an official wing his way over to us for a late KO at 15.00.

Henley started the brighter of the two sides, coming close on a couple of occasions before taking a lead after 18 minutes, a through ball was adjudged to have hit a defender’s hand and Bruce stepped up to rifle home the penalty for 1-0. Within two minutes it was 2-0, some fine work on the edge of the area saw Hammond’s ball find Tejano, he found Bruce who laid the ball off into the path of Liam Ablitt to smash it in off the foot of the post. Bergholt were stung into action and started to have a lot more of the ball, but it was Henley who once again came close after 30 minutes, a fine through ball from Van Oene picking out Cole, whose curling effort went just over the bar. On 45 minutes Bergholt found a route back into the game, the ball fired at Tejano from close range and striking his hand, the penalty was awarded and Jay just squeezed it under Spurling’s dive to bring the score to 2-1 at the break.

The goal inspired Bergholt to greater efforts and the early part of the 2^nd half saw them in the ascendancy, having plenty of possession and playing some nice passing football. However they were profligate with the chances they did create, firing high and wide, and Spurling was on hand to stop any that were on target. At the other end Bruce hit the crossbar after 65 minutes, but almost immediately Spurling was called into action to make a great save at his near post to prevent the equaliser.

As Henley weathered the Bergholt storm, they were looking more and more dangerous and on 69 minutes increased their lead, a high ball in from Liam Ablitt was met at the back post by Cole, who looped his header over both defender and keeper to make it 3-1. Within a minute Bergholt looked sure to score, as Greenwood burst through one on one, but Spurling spread himself and saved brilliantly. But on 77 minutes there was nothing that Spurling could do as Alexander took a cross on his chest and superbly volleyed into the top corner to make it 3-2, a goal of real quality that drew applause from the assembled Henley Ultras. On 83 minutes Bergholt were aggrieved not to be awarded a 2^nd penalty, as the ball dropped over the head of an attacker and bounced onto an unsighted Bull’s arm. On 86 minutes the points were secured for Henley, a Hammond throw in, hooked in by George Ablitt and powered home with a thumping header from the edge of the six yard box by Bruce (yes the rarity that is a headed goal from Bruce) to bring the final score to 4-2.