Back at home, and back in league action, once again down at the Atrium. Gaffer Sheldon Baptiste implemented three changes to the side who delivered a competitive and physical performance against Woodcote last weekend. 

Cohen Benn and Andrew Tafeni returned to the Starting XI, whilst forward Alfie Ward made his first league start. Matei Corbu, Taha Menshawi and Charlie Gmiterek kept their places in the side, starting out on the bench. Jamaal Whight made his return to the team also, following a short injury spell, and was also named as a substitute. Fullback Mickael Vaisset donned the armband once again for our team of Cityzens, leading them on a chilly afternoon.

Ahead of the game, City were forced to make a change, and Louis Eade subsequently entered the XI, switching with Caleb Lucas, who sadly picked up an injury in the warm-up. 

Kick-Off: City U23s 0-0 Henley Town

Tafeni got the game underway, and began what would be an intense and pressure-filled match. 

Finley Meikle, who netted his maiden goal last week, almost immediately doubled his tally. Ward sent in a free kick from twenty yards out, and his curling effort narrowly missed the defender, who attempted to get his head to it, but the ball whistled just wide of the target.

Minutes later, a free kick from the Skipper reached the eighteen yard box, and a scramble for the ball ensued. Forward Reiss Baker got into space and took a touch, but it just rolled into the visiting side’s shot-stopper’s hands. 

An energetic start for City, but the visitors soon began to settle, with their first chance of the game. Field drove it through the final third and towards the edge of the area, but Kimpiats used all his strength to deflect and push the ball back upfield and out of danger.

The remainder of the first fifteen minutes passed with ease, with both sides attempting to pile on the pressure, however neither side could find the net.

A fantastic pass from Eade launched the ball into the path of Baker, who struck a direct effort with composure, but his shot was narrowly clutched by ‘keeper York at the corner of the box. A follow-up chance was delivered to Eade moments later, with the young forward taking a gamble and sending a ball into the area. Henley’s Tidswell knocked the effort back, but only as far as Baker, who latched onto the loose ball. Before he could strike, a tackle prevented his shot, unfortunately ending the attack.

A threatening corner from the visitors arrived next, taken by Red Kites captain, Bertie Gingell. The number 18’s dangerous set play curled towards Alex Collie, who punched to temporarily rid the effort. Benn knocked the ball further out, but Hinds reclaimed possession outside the box. His cross darted towards the near post, and a headed chance from the opposition’s strike force sailed behind for a City goal kick.

The visitors rang in the changes early, and Steven Wilson was exchanged for Scott Brown in the 25th minute.

Hinds came inches away from scoring moments after, charging forward with the ball, and his push was eventually swatted out for a corner. The resulting set piece fell into the box, reaching a player in red, but the effort whistled past the post.

A brilliant ball from Ashu down the left wing was crossed across the box to Barker, setting him up for an on-target strike. After a round of head tennis in the box, Baker took a touch, but his shot was sadly too powerful, dipping in flight and over the crossbar. 

Another fantastic link-up in play between Eade and Baker set City up to take a flurry of chances. A well-played ball delivered at the near post by Tafeni was fed towards the feet of Baker, who tried to tap it in, but York went to ground to block the shot. A rebounded ball fell towards Eade, whose long-ranged pass unfortunately went wide.

A crucial save from Collie at his right hand post saw the ball be tipped wide, and midfielder Jamie Barker cleared to prevent the chance.

Heartbreak came for City on the stroke of half time, as the opposition were given a penalty for a foul in the box by Kimpiats. Field had taken a long-ranged strike, and a shove in the box by the City defender was deemed to be an unfair challenge, and the ball was slotted home, and our boys in blue were trailing at the break.

 

Half Time: City U23s 0-1 Henley Town

Baptiste turned to his bench for inspiration ahead of the start of the second period, and introduced Jamaal Whight and Charlie Gmiterek in place of Bless-Him Kimpiats and Reiss Baker. 

Moments after the interval, City were awarded a penalty for a challenge on Eade. He stepped up to take it, but York shifted to his right to save the spot kick, and sadly, the home side couldn’t knock it into the net after the rebound. 

Henley’s Brindle was close to increasing the visiting side’s lead, but his effort from eighteen yards out flashed across the face of goal. Immediately, City started a counter attack, which saw Baker flick on a ball into the path of Ward, who sprinted to claim, but York reached the ball before our young attacker.

As the clock ticked over into the 70th minute, Henley’s advantage was doubled with a direct strike. As a result of this, the boss made our third change of the afternoon, in a bid to find a way back into the game. This saw Taha Menshawi brought on in place of Louis Eade.

An immediate impact from our substitute, as Menshawi cut through a swarm of Henley defenders to lay the ball off to Barker. The midfielder switched the ball to Ward, but his almost volleying shot was saved at the near post.

A long ball from Vaisset was wonderfully delivered over the heads of the visitors, falling to Barker, who jinked it just past York. As he sent in a strike, shouts for handball rang around the ground after the ball knocked into a Henley defender, but calls were turned away by the referee.

Five minutes after the second, and an impressive chance from Henley, curled in from the left of the box following a one-on-one with Collie, crashed into the net, making it three for the visitors.

Our final substitution for the afternoon saw Matei Corbu enter for Alfie Ward, coming just after the most recent goal.

Hinds had the opportunity to double his goal-scoring tally and claim his brace, as a threatening chance fell at the edge of the box. The City backline did well to surround the ball, compacting their shape to close down the chance. Vaisset controlled at the near post, despite his marker piling on the pressure, and the skipper was able to clear back upfield.

Ten to go, and Henley continued to press high in search of a fourth. Vaisset and Ashu linked up in our defensive third to clear any potential danger following an increase in tempo, and City were awarded a goal kick for their efforts as the ball darted behind and out.

Tensions began to spill over, which had been high throughout the second half. Baptiste was the next person to have his name written in the book, and was handed a yellow on the touchline. Five to go, but City kept persevering.

The half began to fall flat in the final minutes, with neither side able to create close chances, and the whistle soon blew to signal the end of a challenging afternoon.

Full Time: City U23s 0-3 Henley Town

All in all, a tough day at the office, with Henley having the clinical edge to finish on top. A well fought match, but – as always – positives can be taken, and lessons can be learned from the experience. Good luck to our opposition, Henley Town, for the rest of the season.

A second consecutive home game for our 23s next weekend, as Maidenhead Town visit the Atrium for the reverse fixture. We dust ourselves off from today, and prepare for Saturday.