Written By : Tony Stone on 06/11/2023

Categories: Match Report Reserves

With do many games falling foul of the weather, we didn’t expect to be playing, but the efforts made by Sporting 87 to get the game on, ia a credit to them and their pitch was in great condition.

Henley started strongly, playing some neat, stylish football, every player fully committed to winning every ball. Sporting were very clever,  trying to catch us on the counter attack, but our defence was solid, with Mott playing at Centre Back, meaning he has now played in every position apart from keeper.
Griggs was the first to get on the scoresheet, finishing wellbfrom a corner. After that we were in control and should have increased our lead, but we couldn’t put our chances away and the score remained at 0-1 at HT.
In the 2nd half Sporting started very strongly and were definitely on top, equalising within 5 minutes of the restart, making it 1-1 with a long range shot that somehow found it’s way through to end up in the back of the net.
However Henley heads didn’t drop and we started to pick ourselves up again, Vince playing a lovely through ball to Morris who tucked it away nicely for 1-2. We knew that one more goal would seal the cup tie and it came from a nice ball through from Morris to Griggs who tucked it away well for 1-3.
We thought that was the game done, but Sporting had other ideas, with 5 minutes to go they scored, placing the ball in the bottom corner leaving Gussy rooted.
However Henley bravely held on to advance to the quarter finals of the Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup. We know the challenge will continue to get harder, the further we progess, so we’ll have to be ready for whoever comes our way in the draw. Credit to Sporting 87 for fighting all the way and getting the game on, on an excellent surface.