With league positions already settled, there was little at stake as fellow strugglers Staines were welcomed to Jubilee Park. Nevertheless, at the end of a challenging season, Henley were determined to put in a performance and depart Division 4 North with a valedictory flourish.
The home side started very brightly, moving the ball around with pace and purpose, and making the visitors work hard for any kind of possession. The midfield trio of Roberts, Hems, and Harmer provided the fulcrum for Henley, switching the play from side to side, and unlocking the Staines defensive lines.

They did not have to wait long to open the scoring with Gordon Merritt converting a simple short corner with a perfectly struck shot into the right corner after 10 minutes. Henley kept on the front foot and extended their lead with a team goal that exemplified the kind of hockey they want to play. Player of the season, Tony Conway, won the ball for Henley on the left and cycled the ball all around the backs with patient controlled possession before releasing Ted Day on the right to drive forward at pace leaving the full backs in his wake then squaring it across to Merritt to claim his second with a close range finish.

With their tails up, Henley were enjoying themselves and attacking from all angles. Albie Tomlinson, having his best game yet for Henley, was turning his defenders inside out on the left, the tireless Day was tearing things up on the right, and the central core were conducting things with a steady rhythm. Roberts saw another short corner strike denied by a fine save from the keeper, before Tim Barrass, John-Joe Cottam, and Rupert Wiseman all came close to extending the lead, but they could not find the backboard and went into the break at 2-0.

The second half was a much scrappier affair. Staines tightened things up, getting more organised and harder to break down. Henley kept on the offensive but did not quite match the flow and quality of their first half play and had their defensive mettle tested more in this period.
Chris Batey marshalled the midfield through their defensive responsibilities with aplomb, ensuring Staines always had to go the long way round. The visitors pushed hard, but their attacks could not find a way through the defence of Conway, Nicholson, and Botha, and keeper Dave Bowyer.

It was Henley still that created the best opportunities of the second half, coming close on 4 or 5 occasions but finding the wrong side of the net or a resilient keeper.

They could not extend their lead but were delighted to secure their first clean sheet of the season and a thoroughly well-deserved three points.