Henley Promoted

Henley made club history at the weekend by securing promotion to South Hockey League - Premier Division 1, following a nervy victory over Tulse Hill & Dulwich.

Henley started the stronger and asserted an early dominance. Patient build-up in the midfield through Joyce, Kochar and Foster made a lead seem inevitable. The opening goal eventually came from a penalty corner, with David Ralph flicking ferociously past the goalkeeper.

However, Henley allowed the hosts a way back into the game. The visitors, from a non-threatening position in the corner, managed to find a cross through to the penalty spot, which was picked up and slotted past goalkeeper Cox by the Tulse Hill & Dulwich winger.
Moments later, David Ralph found himself in space on the left wing after an astute pass from Rhys Joyce. Ralph then fired a pin-point cross to Henley captain Ed Foster, who brilliantly deflected the ball first-time into the top corner to make the score 2-1 at half-time.

After half-time, Henley looked on top and were beginning to create chances aplenty, but they lacked the clinical finishing required to extend the lead. The game began to open up in the latter stages, and with Henley needing the win to confirm promotion, it provided for a tense finale.

Fortunately for the home side and the capacity crowd, the defensive unit of Gaze, Mortimer and Hughes-Burne remained strong and saw the final whistle through unscathed. Foster’s first-half goal ultimately proving to be decisive in a 2-1 victory.

Henley travel to West Hampstead for the final league match of the season on Saturday, where a further win will see captain Foster carry the league trophy back to Henley.