Written By : Tony Stone on 20/09/2025

Categories: Match Report

Suffolk Senior Cup: Henley Athletic FC 2-0 Debenham LCFC

 

An impressive attendance of 94 enjoyed a fast paced contest between two attacking sides, Henley’s best performance of the season to date, seeing them through to the next round with a 2-0 victory.

A tricky game to write a report for, with both defences holding firm, neither keeper having to make a decent save, with a brace of worldies from Jack Wharton-Richardson deciding the result. Bizarrely, today’s game was the 1st of three consecutive weeks playing the same opponent!

 

The Henley midfield trio of Tejano, Turner-Wilson and Wales, dominated the centre of the pitch, especially in the opening half, a slick passing move seeing Webster fire narrowly over after 15 minutes. Debenham created a decent chance down the right after 35 minutes, but saw it go to waste with an effort blazed high and wide. The deadlock was broken after 38 minutes with a piece of real quality from Wharton-Richardson, his 30 yard dipping effort giving visiting keeper Wilding no chance and Henley a 1-0 lead. However two minutes later Debenham could’ve been back in the game, but hit the bar with a cross cum shot, leaving the score 1-0 at the break.

 

The second half continued in a similar vein, with both defences excelling, leaving the keepers somewhat under employed. Once again it was the quality of Wharton- Richardson that proved the difference, impudently curling home a 25 effort from wide out on the left after 56 minutes to bring the score to 2-0. Henley continued to have the better of the game, but Debenham kept pushing for a route back into the game, but failed to breach the Henley defence. This was epitomised after 80 minutes when the dangerous Yusef looked to be clear through, before Shore appeared from seemingly nowhere to make a phenomenal last ditch challenge, and come away with the ball. The score remaining 2-0 at FT.

 

Comfortably Henley’s best team performance of the season with all 16 of the squad playing their part.

I’ve already heaped praise on the midfield trio, but the back four of Shore, White, Bell and Prime all had great games too. Our frontline worked their socks off, but it was the mercurial Wharton-Richardson who walked away with the MOTM award.

 

#UppaHens

 

The Hat