Henley close the Gate

Henley Men’s 1st team played the 2nd round of the HA Cup as the underdogs against a National League Southgate side. Henley, without 5 regular first team players started the game under pressure with Southgate benefiting from having the Saturday off. A lot of fast paced hockey found the Henley defence stretched and the ball was bundled over the line to put Southgate 1-0 up. 15 minutes into the game and Henley started to show more promising signs, skipper Ed Foster found Taylor at the edge of the D who routinely dispatched into the corner.

A further goal from both sides before half time following some quick stick skills from Southgate and a standard Chris Green reverse stick saw the teams go into the break at 2-2. The crowd on the side sensed an upset and so did the Henley players.

The second half could not have started better for Henley, a superb goal from back to front with Joyce, Foster and Hibberd combining majestically down the right for Green to deflect the ball over the keeper. The momentum for Henley continued over the next 10 minutes with some good chances falling to veteran striker Richard Woolfrey, unfortunately he couldn’t connect with the ball on either occasion. Benji Hetherington, back for his second stint at Henley was fighting hard in midfield, giving no time for the Southgate players and creating chances going forward, a performance that would see him crowned Man of the Match. Further good play down the left from Foster released Taylor on the by-line who played the ball back to Tom Walter, Walter shot through a number of players made it to the edge of the post where Taylor finished potently. Taylor was insistent on giving the goal to Walter regardless of his final touch.

With 10 minutes to go and 4-2 down, Southgate were piling on the pressure, keeper Ray Cox was getting in the way regularly and some big tackles from the ex-most desired bachelor in Berkshire, Robbie Mortimer and new boy Rob Rowe kept them out until a superb reverse stick strike on the run saw Southgate pull one back. Southgate then had a short corner after the full time whistle but failed to convert and Henley had their first ever win over a National League side. The magic of the Cup shined at Jubilee Park that day and they are rewarded with a tough away trip to the City of Peterborough on the 15th November.

Mike Woolfrey (Head of the Henley HC Fanbase) said “A lot of people had been calling for the Interim Manager’s head, following the worst run of league form the team have seem since Ian Heggie took over. But this cup run has kept him in the job a little while longer.”

Ian Heggie refused to speak to the media after the game.