Foster at the double for Henley

Henley started the new league season in style with a comfortable 4-1 defeat of Guildford, although with the skipper bungling up the kit order for another week the style was strictly left to the hockey and left the legion of home fans donned in their new 2017 Henley replica kits understandably miffed.

The most popular names adorned on the back were owed to the summer marquee signings of Alex Land and Steve Harding, both joining from noisy neighbours Marlow to bolster the already galactico-laden midfield. Also making his Henley league debut was Henry Emmett, taking over in goal from Roy Cox following his release from the club.

Henley started the brighter and took an early lead, Chris Green combining with Ross Hibberd to find the baseline and pulled the ball back for Hibberd to tap home with a first time finish. 1-0. However, Guildford began applying the pressure and were quick to reply from a set piece. Henley defended the first penalty corner, but were penalised again as coach Joyce started showing off by dribbling up the pitch with his mask still on, and the resulting corner was put away.

Henley pressed back and regained the lead after Sam Heaver marauded down the right flank to pull back to captain Ed Foster for a classy finish high past the goalkeeper.

Half-time came, and inspirational words from Foster and Joyce woke the team up, before Ian Heggie, still on thin ice following the early cup exit, attempted to put them back to sleep with his speech. Tom Walter also fancied a run around and turned up for the second half.
Henley managed to put some distance between the sides mid-way through the second half after a period of fluid hockey. The Guildford goalkeeper was standing strong to the barrage of assaults on the visitor’s goal, but was finally beaten by a typical backhand smash from Jonny Taylor off a looping rebound.

The result was then confirmed minutes later, with Hibberd nicking the ball off the sweeper in the resolute defensive press and finding Ed Foster in the area once again to slide home for his second of the day and earning himself the man-of-the-match plaudits in the process.