Santa delivers three points to Henley

“It’s fine, no honestly, it’s fine” – so were the words of Interim Ian Heggie as yet another ex Marlow player explained how it was ‘too cold’ to play this weekend. With Robbie Mortimer still being out and requiring surgery (‘it’s OK lads, I’m a fast healer’), Rob Rowe in ECU with acute concussions/pneumonia/generally in the wars-itis for the week (he’d make it by the way) and David Ralph sampling the culinary delights of Lucknow, India (so he can compare to HHC spiritual home, Raju’s), it’s fair to say that the Interim was in a pickle…

Lucky for us, as he worked through his roller deck of potential players, Slay comes before Spanky (and Baker and Bear couldn’t make it) and after a persuasive call it, was clear to Heggie – Slayboy would make a return…all the way from Taiwan. Slay was typically overjoyed to be asked ( “I can’t think of anything I’d like to do less…”) and with Rob Rowe’s medical support team saying he was ‘touch and go’, Heggie thought that he could most likely ‘still do a job’ and his squad was sorted.

…and so to Saturday. The accumulator odds for a Henley win and ‘only’ scoring 4 in the process (given their goals against record), Gupta hatrick, Chris Green (Henley’s greatest of all time – GOAT) ‘low backhand zone’ (as used by Grays sponsored and ex National League starlet Richard Woolfrey) whammy goal and Jeff Goseph not getting a green card were a conservative 10000 - 1 – in fact Leicester were more likely to win the premier league…

And so it began but only after Jeffball and a quick 5 minute warm up (which, it would turn out, was longer than Luke Gupta managed to last in Zizzi;’s in the evening before taking himself home). The home side started more brightly and dominated the play for the first 10 minutes and were rewarded for their efforts, with a quick counter attack after a rare foray into the oppo D by Henley. But Henley were desperate for the win, primarily so that their Christmas night out would be more fun, but also because of our important league campaign too. A succession of corners saw man of the match and Cherry Lambrini king, Luke Gupta score from 2 penalty corners. Henley were are able to make it to half time ahead 2-1.

The second half started with Horsham on the offensive, but a slick and fast counter attack by Henley saw the GOAT sprint clear into the D. His hammy’s withstood the pressure (for once) as he accelerated past his man and unleashed a backhand whammy into the goal. It added to his extensive south league tally and his Cantona-esque post goal statue celebration (you know the one, collar up, stoic look towards the crowd) showed how proud he was of his rare backhand feat.

So, 3-1 up, in control and all looking rosy. In the run up to the match midfield general Hetherington had called for Henley to show resilience and sure enough, 10 minutes later, 1 yellow card (from, yes, Hetherington) and 2 goals conceded saw momentum shift yet again to the home team - their persistence eventually paying dividends to draw level after a series of penalty corners and open play near misses. But Henley weren’t done, smart work by Joyce and Foster on the right hand side after a series of long corners saw Foster carry well and cross for Gupta, who swept the ball into the goal. Henley were able to control the remaining few minutes of the match and claim a vital 3 points. It had been an injury ravaged month or two and this was a welcome pre Xmas boost. It was a result that keeps Henley in touch with those teams just above them in the league and they will be looking to build on some promising phases of play in most of their matches to try to improve their league position in 2017.

This match also the last game for the club for the greatest ever player to play in the MBBO, mercurial right midfielder Ross Hibberd. Not content to be the most intelligent person to grace any sports pitch anywhere, Hibberd will continue his education in the USA and leaves for Columbia University and yet more letter after his name in early 2017. Interim Heggie said of Ross ‘he’s been a great player over the years and a wonderful servant to the club. I won’t miss his ego and volatile temper, but his silky skills will be missed down the right hand side”.