A Young Henley Side Coming out on Top

Over the last few seasons, this match has always produced goals, today was again, no exception, with a crowd of 58 seeing two committed sides produce 10 goals between them, the new look, young Henley side, coming out on top with a 3-7 victory.

Henley took the lead after only 6 minutes, a great ball down the left, picking out Hooley who fired home into the bottom corner to make it 0-1. The lead was short-lived however, Haughley equalising from a corner with a well-placed header from Webby after 10 minutes for 1-1. Only a great stop from Read, tipping over a fierce shot from the edge of the area prevented Haughley taking the lead less than a minute later. Fairweather did well to deny Watling on 30 minutes, saving well at his near post. But the Henley pressure was mounting and on 35 minutes it was 1-2, a Hooley corner, headed back across goal by Graham, was fired in by Storey from close range. On 40 minutes Henley increased their lead with a fine goal, a precise ball from Tejano released Dozzell down the right, his low cross was met and controlled by Hooley who rifled home for 1-3. Haughley were gifted a goal on the stroke of half-time Read coming out to clear, didn’t get enough of a connection and Alex Simpson took full advantage to roll home for 3-2 at the break.

Any hopes Haughley had of furthering their comeback were extinguished in a dazzling couple of minutes following the restart. On 47 minutes, Henley playing out from the back to front, White playing out to Ballard, he held the ball well and found Hooley, he switched play to pick out White who’d covered 80 yards since starting the move, his cross from just inside the penalty area, met and neatly finished by Watling at the back post for 2-4. Within a minute a moment of genius from Ballard made it 2-5, looking up, he spotted Fairweather too far across his goal, tucking the ball inside the opposite post from fully 40 yards. On 59 minutes Haughley pulled one back, a controversial challenge in midfield winning the ball, but a fine finish nonetheless from Alex Simpson at the back post to bring the score to 3-5.

Only two minutes later Henley came close again, Wharton-Richardson’s in swinging corner, taking everyone by surprise and hitting the bar. On 68 minutes a handball in the box saw Henley awarded a penalty, which Ballard smashed home for 3-6. Only a good stop from Fairweather prevented another Henley goal on 75 minutes, as he did well to deny Dozzell. The final goal of the game came after 83 minutes, some quick thinking saw a clever short corner by Wharton-Richardson to Alex Prime, his cross headed home by Storey for a final score of 3-7.

A terrific first win for this refreshed Henley side, playing some good, exciting football against an experienced and strong Haughley side. Good performances all round, with the MOTM award going to Charlie Hooley, who had a great game.