Herbert’s brace helps side keep pressure on league leaders

HENLEY 1sts ran out 4-1 winners at EASTCOTE 1sts in last Saturday’s South Central Open Premier Division 2 clash.

The visitors took the lead after 20 minutes through captain Ed Foster, scoring his 18th goal of the season, following a well-executed penalty corner routine with Adam Herbert.

Henley doubled their lead 10 minutes later through Phil Laurie, who managed to find the target with a half-volley through his own legs to beat the Eastcote goalkeeper.

In the second half Tim Herbert added a third for Henley, after keeping his cool when one-on-one with the Eastcote goalkeeper following Foster’s through ball.

Eastcote pulled a goal back with 10 minutes left on the clock, but Henley sealed the win four minutes later thanks to Herbert’s second goal following another well-executed penalty corner routine.

The win leaves Henley in second place, one point behind league leaders Oxford OBU whom they entertain tomorrow (Saturday).

HENLEY 2nds continued their impressive run with a hard-fought 6-4 home Division 2 North win to secure the double over visiting EASTCOTE 2nds.

Henley took control from the first whistle as their sharp attacking play and clinical finishing saw them surge into a commanding 4-1 lead by the 40-minute mark after some quick-fire goals from Ed Hughes-Burne and Geoff Joseph, then a superbly taken penalty corner from youngster Alex Smith, followed by a fourth delivered by Hughes-Burne for his second.

This left Eastcote with a mountain to climb but the visitors responded with determination. A 15-minute blitz from Eastcote stunned the hosts, as they capitalised on a spell of pressure to claw the score back to 5-4, punctuated only by a cameo goal from Robbie Farina, and set up a tense finale.

With momentum shifting and nerves beginning to show, Alex Smith produced a superb top-corner reverse finish to restore Henley’s two-goal cushion and ultimately secure victory.