Henley Ladies 3s secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Windsor Ladies 3s, moving to the top of the league where they aim to stay.
The game was a true test of Henley’s resilience, with goalkeeper Ela Chamberlain delivering an outstanding performance. Ela’s composure and skill under pressure were key, with Windsor constantly pushing for a breakthrough. The defenders—Fiona Dunn, Angela Botha, Sophie Pendlebury, Martha Peach, and Flo Hughes—were put under relentless pressure, particularly with Windsor winning multiple back-to-back short corners. Despite this, Henley’s defensive unit stuck to the game plan, clearing the ball every time and frustrating Windsor’s attack.
In midfield, Charlotte Irving, Jules Tomlinson, Maddie Moore, Chloe James, Delphine Roff, and Tilly Costa played crucial roles. Each player showed good movement and distribution, with Charlotte Irving standing out for her excellent interceptions. The forward line of Emily Matthews, Nina Lloyd and captain Rosie Wilkinson also worked well, linking up effectively and creating chances, one when Nina picked up a lovely ball and chipped it across to Rosie who slotted it past the keeper and narrowly missed Jules on the post.
The match remained 0-0 going into the second half, with Windsor continuing to press for a goal. However, Henley tightened up their play and the breakthrough came from captain Rosie Wilkinson. Intercepting a Windsor pass, she drove the ball up the pitch and found Emily Matthews, who coolly slotted it past the Windsor goalkeeper to make it 1-0 with just under 15 minutes remaining.
Windsor responded strongly, earning more short corners and applying pressure on Henley’s defence, but they were unable to break down the well-organised back line. Henley also had a few more chances to extend their lead, but Windsor’s defenders held firm.
The final whistle blew with Henley holding onto their 1-0 lead, securing three vital points and top spot in the league. The joint players of the match were goalkeeper Ela Chamberlain and goal scorer Emily Matthews, whose performances were pivotal in the win. The team now look to build on this victory and maintain their position at the top of the league.