Written By : Tony Stone on 03/02/2025

Categories: Match Report

A crowd of 42 saw a fine display from Henley, as they dominated the home side throughout to come away with the 3 points after a comfortable victory. With next Saturday’s Senior Cup Quarter final looming, Manager Jimmy Brown left 5 of the team that won away at Halesworth out of the starting line-up, giving Cowan and Shore their 1st starts after lengthy returns from injury, starts for Dende and Graham and a return to the bench, after suspension, for Wharton-Richardson.

 

Henley flew out of the blocks, Dende’s pace forcing a corner after only two minutes, Hooley swung in a precise ball and Graham rose highest to power home a header for 0-1. After 16 minutes it was 0-2, a great ball from Graham out wide to White, who fed the ball into Dende’s run, he turned on the afterburners and hit the byline, skipped past a tackle, before laying the ball back to Cowan, who slotted home from 9 yards.

 

Henley were rampant now, in total control, and should have extended their lead after 24 minutes, Dende again, causing problems, his low driven ball across the face of goal, seemed to go between Cowan’s legs as he sought a finish, Cowan also came close on 32 minutes but fired over. A mention here for the Henley defence, who didn’t allow Bacton a single attempt on their goal throughout the first half, leaving it 0-2 at the break.

 

Indeed, it wasn’t until the 57th minute that Bacton did have a shot, a high and wide strike from 25 yards. The game was put beyond any doubt after 65 minutes, Hooley pouncing on a misplaced pass from the Bacton defence and simply smashing it into the top corner for 0-3, the velocity of his strike only exceeded by the flying water bottles in the Bacton dugout. Continuing the strategy of giving players a break, Henley made all five changes, with Cole, Ballard and Wharton-Richardson, keen to get in on the action up front. Cole and Ballard both got early shots off, but on 72 minutes, Cole ran from his own half, past 4 defenders, before driving the ball across goal for Wharton-Richardson to guide home at the back post for 0-4. Minutes later only an outstanding tip over, prevented Wharton-Richardson scoring another. But as it was the game finished 0-4.

 

A fine team performance from all 16 Henley players involved, Cowan rolling back the years to pick up MOTM, the defence were impeccable and our front men were simply too much for Bacton, on the day. Dende in particular, absolutely terrorising the full backs, Hooley with another rocket and Wharton-Richardson on the score sheet, immediately on his return. Our midfield showed all their experience and controlled the game, Cooper, Graham and White combining well.

 

Credit too, to our hosts, despite Henley’s dominance, they didn’t let their heads drop and kept pushing until the final whistle, forcing a couple of stops from Punter in the last ten, but his third consecutive clean sheet never really looked in danger.