Written By : Tony Stone on 29/04/2026

Categories: Match Report

SIL Premier Division: Henley Athletic FC 1-2 Coplestonians FC

 

A crowd of 61 braved the cold wind to watch a much closer game than many would have expected, after the results of the previous meetings this season with the Champions.

 

Cops were applauded onto the pitch with a well-deserved, respectful guard of honour from the Henley players, but that respect was short lived, with the understrength Henley side taking the game to the champions from the off. Henley’s positivity was reinforced by a fine save, down low to his left by Robbie Lee after only 5 minutes. After 13 minutes it was Henley who took the lead, Bell bringing the ball out of defence, his pass finding Graham on the edge of the Cops area, his deft layoff picking out Dozzell whose left foot finish found the bottom corner for 1-0.

 

Although Cops continued to press, they couldn’t find a final ball and it was Henley who came closest, Smythe’s 30 yard volley flying just wide of the post. But Cops kept the pressure up with a series of attacks and corners, Henley being indebted to MOTM Keeper Lee, who pulled off another couple of good stops. But he could do nothing about the Cops equaliser on 44 minutes, Sayer cutting in from the right and sending his inch perfect curling left foot shot into the top corner for 1-1. Within a minute it was 1-2, a mishit Henley pass was intercepted and fed out to the left where Keeble crossed for Todd to finish from close range, making it 1-2 at the break.

 

The second half was competitive but with little of incident to report, Cops having the lion’s share of chances, with Henley looking to get forward on the break, but the two defences cancelled each other out, the game finishing 1-2.

 

#UppaHens

 

The Hat