Henley finally overcame their Gandish Road hoodoo

Henley finally overcame their Gandish Road hoodoo, recording their first ever win at East Bergholt’s ground, with a comfortable 0-4 win.

Henley flew out of the blocks, streaming forward with attack after attack, young Bergholt keeper Scrivener saving twice from Cole in the opening 5 minutes, then Watling heading inches wide. But Henley weren’t to be denied for long, taking the lead after 11 minutes with a lovely team goal. A precise diagonal ball from Van Oene released Cole, he snaked down the left and hit a perfect cross which was tucked away well by Watling for 0-1. After 19 minutes it was 0-2, Ablitt cutting inside from the right and driving home into the corner.

Whilst Bergholt did constantly look to break, they didn’t really trouble Spurling, whilst only a couple of contentious offside decisions prevented Henley extending their lead, Van Oene twice denied in short succession, Scrivener also getting another good block on a Cole effort. But the pressure told and on 39 minutes Tejano laid the ball into the path of Bull who made no mistake, rifling home with a low shot from just outside the box for 0-3.

An errant flag further frustrated Henley early in the 2nd half, Cole clean through but pulled back for offside, despite having been released by a throw in. But on 50 minutes it was 0-4 anyway, White finding Ablitt out wide, his cross in behind the Bergholt defence, met and neatly finished by Field. Henley continued the pressure, Cole hitting the post with a cross cum shot, Field and Watling denied again by terrific stops from Scrivener, Ablitt and Cole both coming close also. But to Bergholt’s credit, they kept coming, a couple of freekicks forcing acrobatic saves from Spurling to maintain his clean sheet, as the game finished 0-4.

A really good team performance from Henley, despite a few missing, who really looked to be enjoying themselves on the day and played some lovely football. Ablitt was unplayable and drew the Ultra’s votes to win MOTM, but White, Cole and Tejano are also well worthy of a mention, all having terrific games.

Although Bergholt were depleted by a village wedding, they still put up a good show, young keeper Scrivener the standout, it’s easy to see how he was awarded their player of the year award last week, he gave an exceptional performance, without which the scoreline could’ve looked very different, well played.