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Henley Vets Beat Jersey to Earn Place In Trophy Final

Henley Vets Beat Jersey to Earn Place In Trophy Final

Julian Herbert20 Apr 2015 - 10:59
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Henley Vets reach National Over 40s Trophy Final by defeating an excellent Jersey team after sudden death penalties in Sunday's home semi-final

The semi-final of the NOW: Pensions Masters' O40s Trophy, played between Henley and Jersey at Jubilee Park on Sunday, was expected to be close. Jersey had enjoyed a storming campaign with all but one game played on the road, scoring 24 goals and conceding five; Henley, looking to defend the title, had hit their stride in the quarter final, scoring eight against Gore Court but were without top scorer David Ralph for the semi-final.

What was less predictable was how close the result would actually run: a goal apiece at half time, a stunning save on the line by the Jersey goalkeeper in the 70th minute, a goal apiece at 70 minutes, three goals apiece after the first round of five penalties, followed by the lottery of a sudden death round.

Throughout the match, Rob Green in the Henley goal had been impressive, saving a first half barrage of drag-flick short corners and turning a Jersey shot round the right post with the score at 0-1. And so it continued in the sudden death round, Green making a diving save to his left to deny Jersey and to send Henley deliriously to Finals Day at Lee Valley.

The first half was all Jersey, who strung together several waves of close-passing attacks through the middle which earned them a succession of short-corners. Despite Ramskill's corners proving a powerful weapon in the Jersey armoury in previous rounds, stoical defence on the goal line from Clarke, Burroughs and goalkeeper Green negated the Jersey striker’s drag-flicks.

In the 23rd minute, Jersey earned their sixth short corner and despite Green's save of another Ramskill drag-flick, the rebound fell to Simpson who struck home accurately and hard.

Quick thinking at the ensuing pushback from Chedzey caught the Jersey defence napping: he ran unopposed from the centre spot to the left side of the D. His cross to Day at the top of the circle was touched on to Measures and the reverse pass found a Jersey foot to earn a short corner. Gaze's shot was saved but the rebound fell kindly for Chedzey at the right post, who nudged the ball over the line.

From this moment, the tide turned and Henley started to stretch the game. Measures and Chedzey found space upfront and Day was increasingly authoritative in the middle; Dan Herbert and Heggie provided width for the first time in the game. Another slick passing move down the right side saw Measures wafting at - and missing - Day's lifted pass across goal. A further half-chance went begging when Chedzey shot into the side netting.

The second half was increasingly torrid, with neither defensive line looking likely to concede. Chances were few: Burroughs managed to scramble a half-saved ball off the Henley goal line in the 60th minute and a brilliant reaction save by Brown in the Jersey goal denied Dan Herbert a 70th minute winner.

The ensuing penalty stroke round was a nail-biter. Jersey goalkeeper Brown twisted his ankle in attempting to save Gaze's - Henley's first - effort and had to be replaced. Jersey converted their second and third flicks, but missed the fourth which meant Chedzey stepped up to keep Henley's chances alive. The final Jersey miss set up the sudden death round and Green's memorable save.

Henley will play Cannock (who defeated Wisbech 2-1 in the other semi-final) in the final at 5pm on Sunday 3rd May, at Lee Valley (the former venue of the 2012 Olympic Hockey Tournament).

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