Henley Women’s 3s suffered a 5-1 defeat at home to Newbury & Thatcham 3s, despite making the perfect start and showing plenty of character throughout the match.

Henley began brightly, moving the ball confidently and creating opportunities down the right-hand side. Their early pressure paid off when a superb passing move involving several players worked its way through the wing, eventually finding Jo Corbett, who finished calmly to give Henley the lead. The goal marked Corbett’s second in as many games and capped an excellent team move.

Unfortunately, the momentum soon shifted. Newbury & Thatcham capitalised on lapses in concentration and gradually took control of the contest. Despite Henley’s best efforts, the visitors punished mistakes and built a commanding advantage as the game progressed.

There were still plenty of positives for the home side. Isla Hallet impressed on her debut, producing a strong defensive performance alongside Fi Dunn, Katie Lovatt and Emily Matthews. The defensive unit worked tirelessly under pressure and showed great determination throughout.
The final ten minutes saw Henley rally and finish the match strongly. A series of attacking opportunities created hope of a comeback, with Rosie Wilkinson particularly unlucky after striking the post on two occasions. Despite the late surge, Henley were unable to close the gap, with Newbury & Thatcham ultimately claiming a 5-1 victory.