Santa delivers 3 points to Henley

Fresh from a 3-0 win away to bottom of the league Staines last week, Henley welcomed second bottom Lewes to Jubilee Park. Despite their league position Lewes were only losing games by the odd goal and sit just three points behind the amber and blues. Cue a close game with little good hockey but plenty for the Henley Supporters Trust to get stuck into in the bar after.

The game was also marked with a 2 minute silence for 22 year old Tom Wilson who lost his life in a tragic accident training with his club Old Loughtonians, Essex on Tuesday evening.

Henley started the game the brighter of the two sides with Chris Green and Ross Hibberd both going close but both failing to trouble the keeper. Geoff Joseph managed to fall over a couple of times. Lewes grew into the game on the back of Henley’s wasteful finishing but never really troubled the home side and it was left to Luke Gupta to take the initiative slotting home a trademark finish for Henley to take the lead on 20 minutes. Henley were forced into a change when Rob Rowe took early leave following an accurate strike from Joseph’s sniper but his replacement David Ralph did ok and the home side were able to take the lead into half time.

The second half began in similar fashion with only the umpires green cards and the Manager’s position giving the Supporters Trust anything to get excited about. In front of the visitors’ goal Gupta missed, Hibberd missed, Green missed, Walter missed, with only Columbian Ed Foster forcing the Lewes keeper into some great stops. Benji Hetherington and Rhys Joyce controlled the midfield with some devastating play, but the sniper continued to account for Joseph.

As the half wore on Lewes began to see more of the ball and forced Sam Heaver to mark, a bit. Henley then went down to 10 men with Rhys Joyce exposing his questionable upbringing and Lewes were able to force a number of short corners. 10 then became 9 briefly as Hetherington popped over to Tesco’s for some sun cream but Henley goalkeeper Roy Cox continued to keep his side in the game showing agility and fine reflexes. Finally he looked to have been beaten on the ninth successive short corner but Ed Foster was on hand to stop the ball on the line. Unfortunately in doing so it rolled onto his foot and the umpires were left with no option but to award a penalty flick.

No bother for goalkeeper Cox who pulled off another remarkable save to preserve the home sides’ narrow lead and take the Man of the Match plaudits again.

Henley played the remainder of the game out with Ross Hibberd delivering a fine exhibition of possession hockey, Cox saving onto the post, Green missing another chance when set up aplomb by Taylor and Joseph remaining on the bench.

A valuable three points which leaves Henley with 12 points at the half way mark and 8th in the league.

In a tweet later Chairman of the Supporters Trust, Mike Woolfrey was delighted to extent Interim Manager Ian Heggie’s temporary contract through to 4th January as the search for a permanent successor continues. Henley next welcome Eastcote to Jubilee Park in a friendly on 5th January.