Ladies 2s take Slough by storm

Currently in a perilous position, Henley had everything to play for and happily were able to field an almost full strength team, in a slightly chilly early morning fixture!

In the first half, Henley started a little slowly and Slough took advantage, piling on the pressure and forcing a short corner. The strike was passed to the player on the left and subsequently blasted at the goal, where a defensive error saw the ball being touched past the keeper via a Henley player! However, rather than being dispiriting, this appeared to wake the Henley side, and from that moment on the game was a different story.

During one attack the ball was passed out of the defence to attacking midfielder Holly Verran. Verran showed great composure as she beat one player and then fed the ball through to forward, Serena Hickman-Holden, who let fire her trademark shot - catapulting the ball past the keeper. Henley kept the pressure on and some great attacking play up the left hand side of the pitch by Megan Parker and Hannah Holloway enabled the forwards to go to work once again with Esme Emmett driving into the circle. Experience and years of play together enabled Emmett to pick out Hickman-Holden near the goal line leaving her with a simple ball to slot home and her second goal.

In the second half Henley were able to keep the composed hockey going and Emma England drove into the circle, drawing the foul and winning a short corner. The ball came out to stopper Karen Walker who nudged it in for Rachel Herbert to strike. The ball rebounded off the keeper and fell to Verran who pounced and, with a bit of determination, slotted the ball home.

Slough had 3 main play makers, however Henley worked out how to deal with them and were able to thwart their attacks. In a final effort, Henley once again pushed forward and again, link up play between Emmett and Hickman-Holden saw Serena scoring her hat trick, and securing the win for Henley. Crucial points for Henley - could the great escape really be on?

Team: S. Rogers (captain), M. Tebo (GK), K. Walker, R. Herbert, M. Parker, M. Englemark, H. Holloway, N. Martinez, S. Evans, S. Barton, H. Verran, E. England, E. Emmett, S. Hickman-Holden, K. Roseff