Late drama as Henley snatch last-minute equalizer

Saturday saw top of the table Henley welcome second place Banbury to Jubilee park in a clash sure to produce goals with both sides unbeaten and averaging over five goals a game.

From the whistle Henley started well putting pressure on a physical Banbury side but it was the visitors who opened their account first capitalising on a Henley mistake to break full length of the pitch and slot past a scrambling defence. Banbury then doubled their lead inside the first 10 minutes as Henley were made to pay for another turnover mistake.

Feeling the game slipping away Henley composed themselves with Ross Hibberd and Mani Kochar combining well to win successive short corners, neither of them converted but both offering hope. With the game opening up and 20 minutes on the clock the umpires had their first intervention of a mixed afternoon taking both sides down to 10 men for not retreating 5 yards.

Henley made the most of the reduced numbers with Chris Green grabbing his first of the afternoon from close range and with the score at 2-1 Banbury were able to play out the remainder of the first half through a combination of impressive defending, tempered with flooring the opponent from behind. Both very effective and the latter continually allowed by the umpires having been given instructions to be more lenient.

The second half saw both sides continue to cancel each other out until with 10 minutes remaining the game came alive. In search of an equaliser Henley opened the pitch up with Ralph and Foster orchestrating Taylor, Woolfrey, Green and Joseph in front of them but it was Banbury who should have finished the game with two opportunities; the first a breakaway in numbers cut out by Henley ‘keeper Cox and the second a penalty flick saved to his left with just a minute left on the clock.

From the heroics of Cox in goal Henley mounted one last attack finished with aplomb by Chris Green leaving the final score 2-2. The game won’t be first on match of the day but sees both sides continue unbeaten and Henley retain their spot at the top of the Southern Premier League.