Barrass nets winner in feisty thriller

Henley 3rd team continued their stellar start to the season with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Ealing Lions 1st team at Jubilee Park.

Henley knew that this would be their sternest test of the season so far, facing an aggressive and skilful side who are also battling for a position at the top of the league table.

As in previous weeks, Henley started at pace with slick and stylish hockey, battling hard to win and retain possession. The midfield of Jack Draycott, James Baker, Julian Herbert and John-Joe Cottam worked tirelessly to break down Lions' phases of attack.

With the forwards making clever leads and working together very effectively, Henley won a series of penalty corners. From these Baker scored two goals, one from a well positioned strike, and another following slick interplay with Cottam.

The match became increasingly tense with both sides playing an extremely physical game, the umpires having to brandish cards to keep control of the match as tempers flared.

In spite of this, Henley managed to increase their dominance with a brilliant move. An incisive pass from Draycott found Tim Barrass deep in opposition territory. Barrass found Timothy Herbert, who slipped the ball to Julian Herbert in front of the goal for Julian to blast an emphatic finish.

At 3-0, victory for the amber and blues looked to be a formality. However, the sharp Lions side fought their way back into the match, scoring two goals from short corners to take the score to 3-2 at half time.

The visitors added another soon after the break to reach parity at 3-3, a low shot beating the unfortunate goalkeeper Cordrey.
However Henley dug deep and reasserted their authority, playing with calm assurance and starving the visitors of possession.

The defence of Rowan Austin, Tom Bodeker and Will McCreery held fast against the tiring Lions, and with just five minutes remaining, Henley scored another to re-establish their lead.

The winner came from a superb move on the left through Bodeker, Draycott and Sam Brown which found Harry Wray, whose goal-bound shot was looping wide following a deflection from a defender. Barrass showed a flash of true class and intercepted the deflection to guide the ball into the net.

In the dramatic finish to the match, Lions were awarded a short corner on the stroke of the final whistle. The solid Henley defence resisted three successive attempts by the Lions to seize the equaliser before the final whistle blew, leaving Henley triumphant with their 100% league record intact.