Mens 4s lose out to league leaders

The game started in beautiful February sunshine and both teams playing a cagey game of cat and mouse with neither wanting to slip up and concede the initiative. Henley went close to an opening goal following great work down the right by Dino Cheesman who squared for Phil Biggs who’s shot was saved by the Wallingford keeper. This was followed by another chance for Henley but this time Ian Rechner was foiled by a good diving save. It looked like Henley would pay for these missed chances when Wallingford forced a short corner from which the ball was lifted over the prone Henley keeper to open the scoring.

Henley responded well and following another good break down the right by Dino Cheesman the ball fell to Andy Farrow with his back to goal and he somewhat unorthodoxly managed to shoot through his legs into the goal to the bewilderment of the Wallingford defence. Henley, back in the game needed to consolidate and hold the fast attacking Wallingford front line but found this task to be beyond them as a break down the Henley left saw the ball pinged into the D and an unmarked Wallingford forward simply slotted the ball home to make the score 2-1 to the visitors. Henley made some key changes to strengthen the defence but at the potential detriment of attack. With minutes remaining in the half, solid play by Josh Batty saw him release the ball to an unmarked Jon Grocock who unselfishly passed to Farrow who scored his second of the game. Henley almost snatched a lead with a strike from Neill Emmett driving in from the 25 yard line, going agonisingly wide. Half time came with the scores level at 2-2.

Henley started the second half with their dander up, confident that they could build on the momentum of the end of the first half and make a decisive strike for a winning goal. It seemed that for 15 minutes the game was played in the Wallingford half, with multiple attempts on goal from Henley saved time and again by the Wallingford keeper who was having an excellent game. Wallingford were now living on the break and made a couple of opportunities but these were snuffed out by the excellent Adam Warner Matt Slater and Dino Cheesman in defence.

With 10 minutes to go, Wallingford again had a break away and this time Henley were caught knapping, quick work by the Walingford attack moved the ball around and their CF was presented with an easy goal to take the lead.

Again Henley came back and right to the end were pushing for the equaliser but could not find the clinical finish that they needed. The final score was hard for Henley to bear. Promotion over? With 6 games to go anything is possible but every game now will be a ‘cup final’.