Bayfield treble helps league leaders defeat county rivals

HENLEY LADIES 1sts drew their South Central Women’s Premier Division 1 clash away to BASINGSTOKE 1sts 0-0 last Saturday.

From the first whistle it was a fast-paced game with both teams battling hard for control.

Henley showed good energy across the pitch, with captain Charlotte Granger-Holcombe covering huge ground in midfield and constantly linking play between defence and attack.

At the back, Rachel Herbert commanded the centre of defence, sending some good balls forward to help launch Henley’s attacks and relieve pressure.

Up front, Bethan Lewis — stepping up from Henley 2nds — put in a solid shift, helping apply pressure high up the pitch and supporting the attacking line.

Henley received five cards across the match, which meant the team had to dig deep and adapt while frequently playing with reduced numbers. In the final five minutes, Henley were down to nine players, making for a tense finish as Basingstoke pushed forward.

Henley’s defence stood strong during these moments, with Mel Joyce working tirelessly to help organise and clear the pressure alongside goalkeeper and player of the match Anjana Sothynathan who delivered an outstanding performance between the posts.

Division 2 North league leaders HENLEY LADIES 2nds ran out 6-2 winners at WITNEY.

Henley pressed high and wouldn’t let Witney out of their half in the early stages. A couple of half-chances went narrowly wide before good play down the right by Lily Baker, tenaciously winning the ball back and driving forward, saw the ball fired across the D for Hayley Munt to score after 10 minutes.

Henley maintained the pressure forcing mistakes and the midfield of Kirsten Botha, Ellie Roseff, Sophy Rogers and Lily were intercepting everything and restarting Henley attacks.

The back line of Sophie Miller, Giorgia Fiorentino and Izzy Woolfrey stepped in front of the Witney forwards, tidied up any balls that came through and distributed well.

Fresh legs from the bench made the situation tougher for Witney and paid off fast for Henley. Hassling and harrying from Olivia Callaway and Harri Hayes led to further pressure. One such turnover saw the ball fall to Chloe Lyons, who dribbled past the final defender and slotted across to Amelie Bayfield to finish for 2-0.

A couple of minutes later, Botha robbed the Witney midfield high up the pitch, drew the last defender and found Lyons who controlled inside the D and hit it high into the net. Sophie Miller intercepted a ball down the line, drove forward beating a couple of defenders and found Bayfield for her second and Henley’s fourth. Witney had a short period of joy which required some good saves from goalkeeper Georgie Grocock.

To round off the half, Bayfield completed her hat-trick with a driving, winding run and finish.

Henley made it 6-0 after half-time when from a short corner Lily Baker forced home near the goal line. Eventually, Witney got a couple of scrappy goals against the run of play.

Henley now have a six-point lead at the top of the table with three games to play.

Second placed Division 2 Thames side HENLEY LADIES 3rds lost ground on league leaders Marlow 5ths when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to READING 7ths.

Henley took the lead within the first five minutes. A sharp attacking move was finished clinically by Jo Corbett.

Against the run of play, Reading found an equaliser just before half-time when a mis-hit somehow crept past the Henley goalkeeper.

The second half saw Henley camped in the attacking 25, with strong contributions from Jules Tomlinson, Ingrid Johnson and Emily Matthews. More than a dozen short corners were earned, yet none found the back of the goal as Reading’s defence held firm. Martha Peach, Fi Dunn and Emily Mir held firm letting almost nothing into the D so Reading had no options. Despite dropping two points, Henley extended their unbeaten record to 16 matches.

After being crowned Division 4 Thames champions last week in their inaugural season, HENLEY LADIES 4ths took their goal tally to 116 scored as they thrashed hosts WALLINGFORD 6ths 7-0.

The visitors opened strongly as early attacking pressure earned consecutive short corners, one of which saw captain Ali Jean-Jean convert with a clean strike from the top of the D.

Wallingford responded but Henley’s defensive unit of Nicky Watts, Jess Stevens, Isla Hallett and Evie Quinn held firm, breaking down attacks and transitioning play effectively.

Evie Quinn’s interception and drive up the left created further momentum and sustained pressure which led to Charlotte Clarke doubling the lead with a powerful hit from the top of the circle.

Henley continued to dominate territory, winning multiple short corners before Emilia Ziegler capitalised on a rebound to make it 3-0 at half-time.

The second half began at pace, with Henley scoring twice in the opening minutes. Tilly Alderton’s incisive runs along the back line set up Emilia for another composed finish, before Amy Hill added a fifth moments later.

Henley extended their lead through Nicola Nott, who lifted the ball over the keeper from close range following a goalmouth scramble. In the closing stages, Kat Green surged forward from defence, weaving through challenges before finishing on the rebound.