Another 3 points for the 3rds

Henley 3rd team travelled to Oxford Hawks 5ths, recording their fourth win of the season with a tight 2-1 victory.

In spite of a number of changes to the previous week’s line-up and suffering from niggling injuries, the visitors started with typical attacking gusto. Switching the ball fast across the back, the midfield built penetrating moves to enable the talented Henley forward line to build dangerous moves, with Leo Packham orchestrating at left half.

Henley particularly benefited from the return of Andrew Foster-Yeow and Timothy Herbert up front. Foster-Yeow at centre forward brought presence, speed and aggression – working well with the sublime skill of Timothy Herbert at left wing.

Henley created a number of chances both through penalty corners and open play. Although they were resisted by stout defending, an opening goal looked inevitable. Superb work by Timothy Herbert saw his sharp shot find a defender’s foot on the goal-line, with Foster-Yeow dispatching the resultant penalty flick to give the visitors the lead.

In the first half, Hawks had looked sharp in defence and midfield, but lacking fluency to deliver the ball effectively to their forwards. However the home side rallied in the second half, and with injuries taking their toll on Henley, the game became much more scrappy.

However, Henley remained very tight, the defence working hard with the midfielders to snuff out Oxford’s attacking moves. Such was the effectiveness of Tom Bodeker, Rowan Austin and Mike Woolfrey that Henley did not concede a single penalty corner, and restricted the home team to just a couple of shots on goal – all stopped without drama by the increasingly confident Mike Cordrey in goal.

With 10 minutes remaining, Henley were awarded a penalty corner after another unstoppable dribble from Timothy Herbert. Woolfrey slipped the ball right to Julian Herbert, who finished with a powerful flick.

Closing out the remaining minutes, the final whistle blew and Henley reflected on a well-earned three points.