Written By : Tony Stone on 30/03/2025

Categories: Match Report

A crowd of 106 enjoyed the sunshine and a hard fought game, with a distinctly under par Henley falling to a 0-3 defeat against a fully committed Saints side, scrapping for survival in the Senior division.

 

The opening minutes were end to end, Cooper clearing off the line for Henley, and then Ballard hitting the post and seeing his follow up saved at the other end. The game continued in this exciting vein with Saints taking the lead after 23 minutes, a soft goal to concede as a hopeful cross from Mace, eluded players from both sides to sneak in at the back post to make it 0-1. On 30 minutes Saints made it 0-2, nothing fortunate about this one, Henley needlessly gave the ball away in midfield, Saints getting it quickly out to wide left to Green who curled in a fine effort into the top corner. On 40 minutes, again Henley were the architects of their own demise, a silly freekick given away 30 yards out, was fired in low and flicked into the corner by Addison for 0-3. Tejano looked to have pulled one back just before the break, but was denied by a tight offside decision, leaving it 0-3 at HT.

 

Henley laid siege to the Saints goal for the entire second half, but with the exception of a good save to deny Ballard on 52 minutes, Henley huffed and puffed, but failed to really trouble the Saints keeper, handing Saints a comfortable victory which should see them safe from the spectre of relegation. Which at least means I still get Anita’s wonderful Vicky sponge on next season’s away trip.

 

Credit to Saints, who worked their socks off for each other and their club. Credit also to the Henley lads, who kept going until the final whistle ad never once stopped looking for a way back into the game, an attitude best epitomised by Cole, who despite being out of his usual position, gave us most of our best moments in the 2nd half.

We go again next week.