Spot-on Douglas earns AFC Henley Hunters share of spoils

BERKSHIRE County Girls’ League Division 3 leaders AFC HENLEY HUNTERS U15s drew their top-of-the-table clash with second placed TILEHURST PANTHERS COBRAS U15s 3-3 at Jubilee Park last Saturday.

Henley were in for a difficult day with Tilehurst forward Niara Wright proving a handful, however, the backline of Isla Walsh Smith, Henrietta Howe, Eliza Browne and Amelia Joao were quick to track the runs made by the Tilehurst forwards.

As the half progressed, AFC Henley’s midfield were able to implement their pressing game to good effect and began to starve the forwards of possession.

Henley took the lead following a long throw from Walsh-Smith which was partially cleared to Freya Weatherstone, who fed Sofia-Rose Gallagher, whose looping shot beat the keeper at the near post.

With the Henley backline largely in control of proceedings, it was always likely to be a set piece that would beat the defence and an in-swinging corner from Ava Boyd beat everyone to nestle into the back of the net.

This encouraged Tilehurst and they began to dominate the latter parts of the first half and a good save by Sophie Moulds from a one-on-one kept the score at 1-1.

Tilehurst took the lead with a through ball from Charlie Gerring that put Niara Wright through. Wright was pushed wide by the AFC Henley defence and the danger appeared to have passed until Wight chipped Moulds from an acute angle to make it 2-1 at half-time.

Early in the second half the visitors went down the right-hand side, where Zariyo Falconer Debreo released Chloe Chan for a one-on-one. Goalkeeper Moulds did everything right but an accomplished finish saw the ball evade her outstretched foot to find the bottom corner.

Henley coaches Mike Turner and Jim Weatherstone utilised the subs bench to good effect as they returned Abigail Palmer to the fray.

This approach was rewarded when quick thinking from Izzy Coleman saw her knock a corner to Ava Turner, whose cross was turned in at the far post by the alert Kalypso Vogel.

Scarlett Chalk and Darcy Potter both brought renewed energy to the midfield and Henley dominated the remainder of the game as Tilehurst sought to defend their lead.

Tilehurst keeper Nicole Almualim was in inspired form, saving a shot from Turner and pushing another cross-shot just behind oncoming Henley forward Romy Draper.

Late in the game good pressing by Ava Douglas and Isabella Lloyd saw them win the ball back in the corner. Lloyd then fed Douglas who was held back in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty which Douglas dispatched to earn her side a share of the spoils.

AFC HENLEY HURRICANES U15s went down to a 7-4 defeat against WOODLEY WANDERERS U15s at Harpsden.

On a firm but muddy pitch the Wanderers netted the first goal after only three minutes with a firmly struck shot.

The Hurricanes responded with an equaliser on 15 minutes. Rupert Hepburn’s goal was based on some good passing work between Oscar Robinson and Bruce Cuzen.

Seven minutes later the Hurricanes were ahead, Cuzen again the provider for Robinson to turn and shoot. However, the Wanderers continued to threaten and found an equaliser from a free kick.

The Hurricanes were soon back in front when Hepburn picked up his second goal. Cuzon was again the provider as he picked up Dominic Ellis’s long throw-in. The lead was short-lived as the Wanderers equalised with a fine strike.

The tempo remained high at the start of the second half. The Hurricanes put the Wanderers under pressure and took the lead when Luca Currie’s ball in found Hepburn and then Robinson who scored. Wanderers were quickly back to parity via a penalty.

Chances came for both teams to go back into the lead, but none were taken. Cuzon’s shot hit the post, while Hepburn could only put Currie’s cross wide. Charlie Dix posed problems with his pace, while at the other end, George Hodges made some notable saves, including a diving fingertip stop to keep out one shot.

In the end it was the Wanderers who scored, a fine individual goal from their forward which took the wind out of the Hurricanes. The Wanderers quickly added two more, and although the Hurricanes never gave up, they couldn’t find another equaliser.