A hard-fought point for Henley

Henley travelled to Old Cranleighans Hockey Club on Saturday, to face a well-established Premier League side. Knowing they needed to improve on last week’s defeat to London Edwardians, the side responded well and battled hard for a point.

Henley started very brightly and dominated the first half with an effect press, resulting in multiple turn-overs made by the Steve Harding and Benji Hetherington in midfield, supported well by Rhys Joyce and captain Ed Foster.

After 10 minutes, Henley took a deserved lead after a short corner strike by Luke Gupta stuck a Old Cranleighans’ foot on the line, resulting in a penalty flick which Joyce dispatched. Five minutes later, Henley doubled their lead after a flowing move down the right wing end up with Sam Heaver dispatching a ferocious reverse sick strike in to the net. Not content on slowing down, the away side added a third from another penalty stroke following Harding’s attempted effort also being stopped on the goal line by an Old Cranleighans’ foot. Joyce dispatching his second of the day.

The away side pulled back a counter-attack goal on the break on the stroke of half time, but Henley deservedly in the lead 3-1 at the break.

In the second half Old Cranleighans threw bodies forward, as the 12 man squad of Henley tired. Despite some heroic defending by Hughes-Burne and Rob Rowe, Henley struggled to contain the home side and conceded two goals in quick succession, leaving the match poised at 3-3 with 10 minutes to play.

Despite some half chances created on the break, Henley had little threat going forwards in the final stages, but were resilient at keeping Old Cranleighans out for the rest of the match, earning a hard-fought point in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Henley host Milton Keynes Men’s 1st team this Saturday at Jubilee Park (1.30 PM start).