2 points dropped? but a fine performance

SIL Premier Division: Henley Athletic FC 1-1 Tattingstone Utd FC

As with all teams facing a midweek match as their penultimate game of the season, Henley were missing a few regulars, meaning enforced changes to the starting line-up. But, despite the player rotation, this was one of Henley’s best performances of the season, playing some flowing passing football against a strong and talented Tattingstone, in a game we really should’ve won.

Henley had the ball in the net after only 7 minutes, Cates heading home from a corner, with the Tattingstone keeper missing the ball, but the goal was disallowed for an adjudged push in the box. On 13 minutes Henley came close once again, a through ball past the keeper desperately cleared over his own bar by the Tatt defender with Cates lurking at the back post. Tattingstone were having good periods of possession, but were only getting shots away from outside the box, which caused little concern for Lee in the Henley goal.

After 30 minutes it was the visitors who took the lead, a fantastic, weaving run from the talented Iuri Fernandez, beginning inside his own half, into the Henley box, initially it appeared he’d overrun the ball and Lee would collect, but a miscommunication between defence and keeper, left the smallest of spaces, into which Fernandez slipped to regain possession and score from close range for 0-1.

On 41 minutes, Henley equalised, great work down the left side from Tejano, he fed the ball into Dozzell who saw his initial strike well saved, but Knights was on hand to calmly, pick his spot and slot home the rebound for 1-1 at HT.

Henley came close just after the restart, Tejano rising highest to head goalward a Smythe free kick, which cannoned off the inside of the post to safety. Henley continued to press, but were grateful to the evergreen Shore for two consecutive goal line clearances in the 68^th minute when Tatt caught Henley on the break. On 78 minutes only two great stops from the Tatt keeper prevented Henley taking the lead, the first block denied Tejano, the second tipped Cates’ follow up around the post.

On 84 minutes, Tattingstone were reduced to 10 as their goalscorer saw red for comments to the referee. Henley pressed even harder for a winner, seeing two efforts cleared off the line and another couple flash narrowly wide, but couldn’t find a winner, the game finishing 1-1.

A strong showing from Henley against a side who totally dominated us in the opening half of the season, more a case of two points dropped on the night, rather than a point gained. Knights, with his trademark industrious performance picked up the MOTM award, but plenty of credit too to the old guard of White, Shore, Bell, Tejano and Smythe who drove the team forward throughout.

#UppaHens

The Hat