New Jack City

SIL Premier Division: Sporting 87 FC 1-2 Henley Athletic FC

A combination of suspensions, illness, injuries and absences saw 7 missing from the Henley squad as they visited Sporting, forcing Manager Jimmy Brown into multiple changes and some late call ups. Games between these two sides have always been tight affairs, oft decided by late goals and today proved no exception to the rule.

The 1^st chance of the game went Sporting’s way, a long range effort bouncing off the top of the bar, safely covered by stand in keeper Lee. On 18 minutes Taylor produced a moment of magic for Henley, dancing his way through 4 defenders, before curling a shot just wide of the far post. Henley took the lead after 24 minutes, a through ball from Bell finding Cates, who beat his man, cut inside and finished neatly into the bottom corner for 0-1. Both teams pushed forward, Sporting coming close with a low finish across goal going narrowly past the post with the last kick of the 1^st half.

In the 50^th minute, only a brace of last ditch saves from close range strikes by Bell and Webster prevented Henley from increasing their lead after a corner. 5 minutes later Henley had a good shout for a penalty denied as Taylor was pushed to the ground in the Sporting box.  Less than a minute later Sporting found the equaliser, Thomas rising well to head home from a corner to make it 1-1.

Henley had a narrow escape on 61 minutes, a shot deflecting just wide off the heel of Graham, Sporting continued to pile on the pressure, another effort flashing wide on 63 minutes.  Again the Henley defence held firm, blocking another goalbound effort after 73 minutes. A reinvigorated Sporting piled forward but wasted their chances overplaying in the area, whilst at the other end Cates was testing the very advanced Sporting back line, however they were stepping up well, the flag continually raising to catch Henley’s young striker offside.

But on 88 minutes Graham’s powerful clearing header was won back by Compton just inside the Sporting half, his pass found Cates, who had timed his run perfectly and was through one on one with the keeper. His first shot came back of the inside of the post, but he reacted quickest and smashed home from a yard out to seal the 3 points for Henley with a 1-2 win.

Although Sporting will rightly rue their missed chances, this was a good win for an understrength Henley, MOTM went to Dozzell, who improves with every game. Strong showings from young Taylor, whose close ball control was a joy to watch, whilst of course goalscorer Cates, after stepping up from the Ressies is firmly cementing his place in the side. Many thanks to the lads who stepped up to help today, Robbie Lee was calm between the sticks and Robbie Smythe rolled back the years with a fine cameo off the bench, despite only getting the call up just over an hour before the match.

#UppaHens

The Hat