2s winning streak continues

Henley 2s 5(2) Staines 2s 2(2)

Henley turned up on Saturday in confident mood, after 3 successive victories, including Harrow, the league leaders, on the previous Saturday. They were also fielding one of the strongest sides ever, with plenty of experience. However, the game didn’t start well. James Baker, recently back in the side after a broken arm, diverted a weak cross through Dave Bowyers legs in goal, leaving a simple tap in for Staines to go one up. Henley regrouped and Nico Jean-Jean was unlucky with a disallowed strike from a penalty corner. Henley levelled soon after this through a flick from David Ralph from another penalty corner and went a goal up with a good finish from new (ish) recruit Kevin Jones. Henley were dominating possession and starting to play some good hockey but another lapse in concentration allowed Staines to drill a powerful pass into the D which was cleverly deflected into the goal. 2.2 at half time.

Henley started strongly in the second half. Staines had a great chance to go 3:2 up but they fired over the bar. Henley took the 16 yard quickly and after a clever exchange of passes, Hughes-Burne finished smartly with his reverse stick. Rhys Joyce was starting to impose himself. He was a little nervous in the first half – perhaps understandable given it was his debut – but he certainly silenced the murmurs in the crowd with a smart finish from a penalty corner. After that, Henley relaxed and in truth could have scored several more. Hughes-Burne scored his second and Henley’s 5th before missing spectacularly when his hat-trick beckoned. 3 points and a comfortable win in the end but Skipper Woolfrey will know that there are tougher challenges to come, starting with a crunch match away at Oxford Hawks next week.