Henley 5s  v Oxford 9s

Henley Mens 5th XI played their eleventh league match of the season against Oxford 9s on Saturday 8th December 2018 away at Headington School.

With almost half of the seasons worth of league matches and Tuesday evening training sessions under their belt, the Men’s 5s team has very much established its game and played some great hockey against Oxford. The colts confidence has increased immeasurably and their composure on the ball meant they worked the ball effortlessly through the midfield and up to the forward line. Meanwhile the defence made some superb switches across the back to help create opportunities for goals.
Early into the first half, midfielder Fergus Heggie made good ground through Oxford’s midfield, passing the ball on to centre-forward Elliot Fielder. Fielder made a swift pass down the left flank towards winger Eddie Williams, who then slotted the ball on neatly to incoming midfielder Henry Davis, who received the ball and took it around the remaining defenders and keeper to the base line, where he finished with an acutely angled and accurate shot into Oxford’s goal. This first goal was swiftly followed by a second as a great pass across the face of Oxford’s goal presented forward Jamie Furness with a short-range ball to slot home, taking the score to 0-2. Oxford did make manage to make advances up in to Henley’s half however these were intercepted by mid fielder Enzo Cheesman who read the game perfectly and snuffed out numerous Oxford attacks.
Keeping up the pressure on Oxford in the second half, Henley’s third goal was to come from a short corner. Jon Grocock made a swift push out to Ian Heggie who slipped the ball right on to Jamie Furness. Furness neatly passed the ball back to the centre where midfielder Phil Biggs made a simple but highly effective flick past the goalie and in to the goal.
Henley continued to command the majority of the game throughout the second half, but a late break from Oxford resulted in them being awarded a short corner against Henley. Henley successfully defended the corner and cleared the ball to the top of the D where it was blocked by the body an Oxford player who had slipped and was laid prone on the pitch. Unfortunately, the umpire didn’t see the infringement and the Henley defence made of error of pausing, expecting the whistle to be blown, whilst an Oxford forward played the ball into the unguarded goal taking the score to 1-3. Spurred on by their goal, Oxford pushed forward in the closing moments of the second half but a combination of good cover defence and calm goalkeeping by Tom Grocock kept them at bay. Final score at fill time Oxford 9s (1 – 3) Henley 5s and a welcome additional three points taking Henley to third position in MBBO Division 9.