Henley progress in HA Cup

Newly promoted Henley Men’s 1st XI kicked off their competitive season with a 1st round HA cup match against Barnes Hockey Club, a team who were in Henley’s league last year. Following a testing, but very successful pre-season campaign, which has seen Henley amass 30 goals in 5 matches, confidence was high leading in to the match.

On an unseasonably warm autumnal afternoon, the match started at a high-tempo, despite the away side’s half-court tactics, which were designed to soak up any early Henley pressure. Ross Hibberd showed some sublime skills on the left wing, and carved out numerous early chances for the forward pairing of Jonny Taylor and Geoff Joseph. Barnes stood firm however, whilst offering little threat going forward. It took Henley almost 30 minutes to open the scoring, when Henley captain Ed Foster, played a neat give-and-go with Joseph, and then flicked the ball high past the onrushing Barnes goalkeeper.

The second half saw much of the same, with consistent Henley pressure at the start of the half. To the home supporters’ delight, Henley then doubled their lead, again through Ed Foster, who latched on to a loose ball in the Barnes D to strike crisply into the corner of the goal.

Henley were in full control at this point, with Rhys Joyce and Robbie Mortimer controlling the game in midfield, supported well by new recruit Rob Rowe just behind them. On the hour mark came the goal of the match, as a sublime through-ball by Interim player-manager Ian Heggie found Foster, who completed his hatrick with a ferocious reverse stick strike into the top left hand corner of the Barnes goal.

At 3-0 up Henley were seemingly cruising to victory, however two late Barnes break-away goals in 5 minutes left the home side on edge, and in the final moments it took an excellent reaction save by Henley goal keeper Roy Cox to ensure Henley progressed to the next round with a 3-2 victory.

Henley will face National League opponents in the next round, as they welcome Southgate Hockey Club to Jubilee Park on Sunday 1st November.