Henley 4s rue missed opportunities

With games running out and following a couple of disappointing recent results Henley 4s were hoping for a strong performance against high flying Oxford having been unfortunate to lose to them before Xmas.

Henley started the stronger and were quickly pushing Oxford deep into their half, solid play in mid-field from Simon Ward and Simon Taylor were proving the bedrock of multiple attacks but try as they might, Henley couldn’t get a serious shot on target. Oxford reset their structure and started to become more and more into the game. Following consistent pressure Oxford were awarded a disputed short corner which was converted for an Oxford lead against the run of play.

Spurred on by Ian Rechner proving a constant danger in the Oxford half, Henley once again began to take control of the game and following some scrappy defending the ball fell to Nick Shuttleworth in front of goal, his reverse stick shot going through the keepers legs for a well-deserved equaliser.

Clearly Henley hadn’t learnt their lesson from the very next attack another cheap short-corner was conceded and a ’mishit‘ shot crept in at the far post. Half-time came in timely fashion for Henley as some of the good structure and build up play was now beginning to fall apart.

The second half began as per the first with Henley in ascendance; Harry Wray particularly catching the eye with strong defence and being the lynch pin for attacks down the Henley left. The game was now becoming more and more under Henley’s control but try as they might they were failing at the last hurdle with little or no D penetration and subsequently no real shots on target. With 5 minutes to go James Rechner found himself in the D but his first time strike struck another Henley player on the foot – chance gone!

The last few minutes were played out with Henley in the Oxford half and despite pushing more players forward it was clear that Oxford had the measure of the Henley attack as they played the game out for their victory.

With the final whistle sounding Henley were left to rue the soft goals they had conceded and now need to focus on a double header this weekend with away games at Chiswick and Leighton Buzzard where one win at least is a must requirement.

MW