Banbury Back to Winning Ways
Banbury HC Men’s 1s - 5 Henley HC Men’s 1s - 1
Banbury put last week’s loss behind them and sent a message to the rest of the South Central Premiership with an emphatic away win against mid table Henley.
Banbury set about their work to grab three points with their brand of fast flowing attacking hockey in the first 10 minutes with Tyson Nunneley and Harry Simons linking well to create early chances. After 15 minutes George Brooker carved through midfield and slipped the ball to Simons who’s aggressive dribble into the Henley D won a penalty corner. Josh Nunneley converted the corner with his trademark rocket of a drag flick to give Banbury a 1-0 lead.
Henley came back at Banbury immediately winning a penalty corner which Pete Lamb was key in successfully breaking down with a vital block. Two minutes later Josh Nunneley launched a pitch length aerial pass to Tyson Nunneley on the right who skilfully rounded the Henley defence and slipped a perfect pass to Brooker. Brooker’s first time shot was parried by the Henley keeper and Jacob Bucker Rowley pounced to flick the rebound into give Banbury a 2-0 lead. This stung Henley into action and man of the match Joe Allen worked hard to block and channel their counter attacks. Pete Lamb and Darsh Theara held the central defence tight to keep the lead and despite this Henley could’ve grabbed a goal back but for some luck and work by Kit Lamb in goal. The half finished with Banbury on the attack again with Captain Will Kellet’s tenacious attacking play winning a penalty corner and Andrew Scanlon’s mesmerising dribbling winning another but neither of these chances could be converted and Banbury went in 2-0 up at the break.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw Banbury on the attack again and were unlucky not to increase the lead when Josh Nunneley linked up with Tyson Nunneley and Brooker came close; then Scanlon’s deft work won a penalty corner and Josh Nunneley thought he’d grabbed the 3rd goal but his drag flick was disallowed; and finally Simons’ carved his way into the opposition D and his goal was disallowed too. But the pressure paid off when Scanlon worked his way into the D and unleashed a shot which the Henley keeper could only parry leaving Brooker to volley the rebound into the net making it 3-0 to Banbury.
Henley came back at Banbury and after 15 minutes a tight melee in front of Banbury’s goal led to a penalty which keeper Lamb could do nothing about and the scoreline was 3-1. Banbury immediately came back at Henley with the fresh legs of Sam Chadbourne and Richard Hobley on the pitch they regained shape and composure. Chadbourne linked well with Nunneley and Kellett to create more chances but it was a sublime 40 yard cross field aerial pass from Scanlon to Brooker in the D that gave Banbury their 4th goal as Brooker calmly took the pass and volleyed the ball high into the Henley net to grab his second goal. Allen, Pete Lamb and Hobley kept Henley out for the remainder of the game and Kellett continued to trouble the Henley defence winning two more penalty corners, the second Josh Nunneley converted with a killer drag flick grabbing his second and Banbury’s 5th goal of the afternoon. The match finished with an emphatic 5-1 win for Banbury leaving them six points clear at the top of the league.
Banbury manager Andy Camp said: ”we vowed to put last week’s defeat behind us and send a message to the league with this away win and we did that. Henley are a tough team at home but the lads were far more composed, determined and kept focussed to get the win. Next week is a busy weekend with Winchester at home Saturday and then Slough away in Sunday – a potential 6 points for us to increase our gap at the top”
