Ladies 2s lose out to local rivals

Despite their precarious league position, recent form has been strong and so Henley were ready to do battle from the off.

In the first half Henley started well, they attacked as a team and created opportunities in the circle however it was Reading that made the first break through. For a while Henley lost their confidence and suffered under the pressure the Reading team piled on and a few defensive slips allowed Reading to breech the Henley goal for the second time. This made Henley's recovery difficult - but not impossible, so half time came and a pause in play allowing time to regroup and restart.

In the second half Henley were back to their confident selves, but they now had a deficit to overturn. Some great saves in the Henley goal by 'Keeper, Emily; and some fabulous tackles from defender Karen Walker meant that the defence were solid. Stepping in at left midfield, Tash Livanis was proving a strength and having intercepted the ball she passed it down the line to Serena Hickman-Holden who took on the Reading defenders and drove along the baseline into the circle. Having beaten one last defender she lifted her stick and, from a very difficult angle, she fired the goal into the back of the net.

After this boost, Henley were once again on the ascendency. They sent in wave after wave of attack and had a number of chances, including a short corner strike that hit the post, but Henley just seemed to be unable to succeed. Following one further counter attack, Reading finally managed to breech the Henley defence and secure the win. The league is not dead and buried for Henley, but it's certainly a tough ask now.