Henley Ladies 1’s continue their winning streak with triumph over West Hampstead

Although the white and blacks started the game with possession, the amber and blues were adamant to quickly gain control of the game. Kath Draycott disrupted their attacking line with some strong tackles to enable Louisa England and Jem Barham to use their stick skills to get through West Hampstead’s solid middle line and put Henley on the attack. England distributed the ball out to Hannah Jeremy on the wing who skillfully took the ball around the white defence and on to a foot to win Henley their first short corner. With a precise injection from Charlotte Cockerton to Rachel Herbert and England on the top of the D, Herbert produced a commanding hit which was deflected into the goal to ultimately be disallowed. However, Henley were adamant to quickly get another. West Hampstead attempted to use their hit out to their advantage but after an amazing step by Georgie Metcalfe to intercept the ball, and some great runs by Ellie Roseff, the Ambers quickly won another short corner. The ball went straight to Herbert at the top of the D who kept her composure to pass a perfectly placed ball to Emma Walker on the left who slapped it straight into the far right corner to give Henley an early lead.

West Hampstead made it quickly apparent that they were not willing to let the game slip and came back at Henley at full strength. However, Henley kept their composure and with some great guidance by Hannah Lavish in goal. Mel Joyce and Matilda Engelmark were able to maintain an imperishable defence line and ultimately get the ball to Cockerton on the forward line who skilfully stretched West Hampstead’s defence to put Henley back on the attack.

The second half began with Henley dominating the middle of the pitch with some great passes between Metcalfe and Emma Gutteridge to slowly build play into West Hampstead’s half. Some excellent runs by Katie Butler created space to enable England to dribble the ball into the away team’s D and strategically win Henley a short corner. Henley tried to use the same tactic, but after some great saves by West Hampstead’s goalie, struggled to convert it into a goal. However, Henley continued their dominance and after some skillful play by Barham who slipped the ball to Roseff on the baseline, the ambers won themselves another short corner. Metcalfe disguised a tactical pass straight to Walker on the left of the D who slapped the ball back to Metcalfe on the P Spot to slip it between the goalies legs and take Henley to a 2-0 lead just before the full time whistle.

Written by Emma Walker