Henley 2nd Men’s Hockey Team Dominate in Game Against Newbury & Thatcham

Henley 3 Newbury & Thatcham 1

Scorers: Jeremy Hughes-Burne, Guy Harmer, Alex Price

Henley 2nds have been playing some superb flowing hockey in 2013, turning around several brilliant results. Continuing this form, Henley dominated the game on Saturday. The resultant scoreline somewhat flattered the away opposition.

On a crystal-clear, spring-like Saturday afternoon at Jubilee Park Henley employed their successful 4-3-3 formation, attacking freely down the wings of Wood and Pollard. Combining well with the solidity of Price, chances were not thin on the ground. Particularly good play saw Harmer released in the D to dispatch into an unoccupied goal. Soon after the restart, skilful build up play by Herbert layed the ball to Jeremy Hughes-Burne, who smacked the ball into the net.

Henley broke free successfully again in the first half, this time Price finding space in the D to dispatch his shot inside the near post.

Although the domination was not as rife in the second half, Henley enjoyed plenty of possession and some very good attacking play. Jeremy Hughes-Burne somehow hit the post of an empty net from a yard out. Harmer also put the ball into the net, only to have been adjudged to have brought the ball back from beyond the goal-line. Later the Umpire confided that perhaps a mistake had been made. All credit to the Umpire, where this kind of feedback is always appreciated.

Newbury grabbed a goal towards the end of the game. High pressure saw Draycott divert the goal past a wrong-footed Bowyer.

This win was the culmination of recent hard work and training by the Henley team, who have all but mathematically guaranteed their place in the same league for next season.