Men's 2s finish the stronger

It was another glorious day at Jubilee Park, with the sun shining down the game (plan) started an hour early in the familiar surroundings of changing room one. The visitors from Bi-cestor-shire had travelled down the m40 and where clapping and cheering to who knows what in their changing room, while Henley where focused. With just one place between both teams in the league the pre-match analysis of how they play a fast, attaching, agricultural game, made one thing clear, this was a must win game for Henley. A strong team with the return of a number of familiar faces and a debut start for D. Ralph, confidence was high

Henley have continued to start poorly in recent weeks, being on the losing side at half time more times than not and today was beginning to look no different...

The game began to turn in the first 15 minutes with the Bi-cestor-shire lads beginning to over-come the effects of the long journey down the m40. Attacking in numbers against a back three, creating a high press and making it difficult at times for Henley to get the ball out from the back.
Breaking into the Henley D and forcing a mistake, Bicester where able to make it into a one nill lead.

Determined not to be on the losing side at half time, Henley started to build up the pressure, allowing the Bi-cestor-shire lads to attack at pace, but starting to soak it up and adding pressure of our own, which also resulted in a first half tally of 5 short corners...
On the 22nd minute after a smooth maneuver, Henley saw the youngest of the three Herberts on the pitch (Timothy) finish the ball into the back of the net, while Herbert senior looked on from the side with pride...

The remaining 13 minutes of the half where a back and forth flowing game, with opportunities for both sides, but no outcomes, meaning a one all draw at half time.

After another rousing half time team talk, focusing the Henley minds and resetting the team for the task ahead in the final 35, the game restarted, within the first 5 minutes, following some obvious keepy uppy foot skills from the Bi-cestor-shire forward, proving they where willing to do any type of cheating to win, Henley took the advantage, giving the home team a 2:1 lead with a fantastic effort from Herbert semi-senior (Dan).... Jules was still watching from the sides, almost wishing he’d brought his shorts and stick, thus cementing Dan’s place at the top of the diamond (until his next position change..)and giving Henley the lead.

Following another scuffle, misplaced pass and a positional mistake by the Henley Keeper, Bicester where back in it, able to draw even and nullify Henley’s lead. This meant that Henley would have to dig deep to get the result required and that came firstly by an individual attempt from debutante D Ralph, a strike from within the D, a deflection, a bobble and a wrong footed Bi-cestor-shire goal keeper, the ball hit the back board regaining the lead for Henley.

The final nail in the coffin for Bicester came from ‘Man of the Match’ Jeremy Hughes-Burne, with a sublime finish proving that Smart water is better than fit water and earning him the man of the match award with his game of the season so far and Henley a hard earned 3 points.