Written By : Tony Stone on 16/03/2025

Categories: Match Report

Saturday’s trip to our friends at Sporting, ended in a 2-0 defeat for a lacklustre and understrength Henley. With Captain Storey and Cole out injured, striker Wharton-Richardson and keeper Punter unavailable, it was a much-changed looking Henley that took the field, including a debut for young keeper Ben Barkes.

Sporting forced a series of early corners and took the lead when Park headed one home after only 4 minutes for 1-0. Barkes made a great save after 8 minutes, with a Sporting striker through one on one. Henley started to improve from the 15-minute mark, Ballard rifling a shot just wide after 24 minutes, but Sporting still looked the more dangerous and on 28 minutes Shore was required to make a fantastic last ditch tackle, Barkes again doing well to save the follow up shot. Young keeper Barkes again the hero after 43 minutes, with a phenomenal close range save following a goal mouth melee, as the half finished 1-0.

Henley dominated possession in the 2nd half, but failed to find the final ball that their build up play deserved, Cowan came close with a vicious 25 yard volley which flew just over the bar on 64 minutes. Tejano saw a goalbound effort blocked on the line, but it was Sporting who looked the more likely to score, wasting 2 clearcut chances on the break. Henley’s selection issues worsened, with Shore limping off with a hamstring injury. On 88 minutes a miscommunication at the back gifted Sporting the goal to seal their win, Hailstone gratefully rolling the ball into the net for a final score of 2-0.

Despite Henley not really turning up on the day, this was a good all-round performance from Sporting and they were worthy of their victory. The only highlight of the day was some fine 1st half saves from young MOTM Barkes