Henley too strong for Kesgrave

SIL Premier Division: Henley Athletic FC 3-0 AFC Kesgrave

Yet another good crowd of 92 enjoyed a good all round team performance from Henley as they comfortably saw off Kesgrave 3-0.

As is so often the case with midweek games, Manager Smythey was forced into changes from Saturday’s winning line up. Paine, Fike and Velzian making their 1^st starts and Rankin coming off the bench.

Henley started brightly with Francis crashing a strike off the bar after 9 minutes, which bounced down and looked like it may have crossed the line, but it wasn’t given. Henley’s perseverance paid off, as they took the lead after 26 minutes, Tejano releasing Wadey, who raced forward to finish from the edge of the box for 1-0. After 31 minutes it was 2-0, Wadey bursting down the right and firing in a low cross, which was forced over the line by Francis for 2-0. Less than 2 minutes later, Wadey cannoned a shot off the post from a narrow angle, as Henley piled the pressure on. But the score remained at 2-0 at HT

Kesgrave came out looking better in the 2^nd half, certainly having more of the ball, but without really threatening the Henley goal, their 1^st two real shots of the game going high and wide. At the other end

after 62 minutes, again Wadey and Francis combined, the latter’s strike pushed round the post to safety. Three minutes later substitute Rankin, whipped a shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide.

In the 90^th minute Lee was forced into his 1^st real save of the match, comfortably gathering a low strike from just inside the box. But in the 93^rd minute Henley added the final touch to a fine performance. Cates doing well on the left to find Wadey, who held the ball up, before tricking his way past his marker to cross for Rankin to finish from close range with his debut goal making the final score 3-0.

A strong squad showing from Henley, with an impressive debut from Paine in midfield, but it was Wadey with a goal and two assists that was fully deserving of his MOTM award.

#UppaHens

The Hat