06/09/2026
What can we say, we have entered a new chapter today with our first season in the Coventry and Warwickshire youth football league
We came into this season with an unknown expectancy, as we have had a big rebuild, due to players leaving at the end of last season.
To the point we gave 9 new players their debuts today, and with no friendlies to gel and no real chances to get some game time under our belt, we went into today full of belief with the team knowing they not only individually have the ability to change a game, but collectively will become a team who will be positive and always work off each other.
That being said they played todays game like a team who had been together for years, with great communication and the unity between the lads was there from the first whistle to the last. Which was evident towards the back end of the game where new player Kai, raced back to make a tackle preventing a shot on goal, and the lads celebrated that effort like it was a goal.
We started with 6 debutants in the starting 11, seeing Elijah, Harvey, Kaylem, Dion, Theo and Kaiyden all make thir first starts for Henley. The game started steady with both teams trying to find their way into the game, with both teams pushing to get the first goal, seeing Theo, Dion, Kieran all have efforts at goal, and joint longest serving player Dan making saves or breaking play up for Henely.
About 20 minutes in, Henley found their breakthrough with Kieran floating a corner in with Whitley getting a flick clearance, before Kaiyden pounced on the loose ball taking a shot which deflected passed the keeper to take it to 1-0.
Henley continued to push forward, with subs Leighton, Corey, and Club Captain Joe coming off the bench, making an instant impact, with Leighton winning everything he went in for, but also keeping it simple and moving the ball around well, which set up Dion Kaiyden and Kieran to link up seing Kieran have a shot which CJ was ready to pounce on after controlling the ball, but Joe poked it home through the legs of the keeper.
Whitley brought themselves back into the game with about 5 minutes to go before half time, seeing their player find himself in acres of space and he took a quick shot which looped 9ver the unsighted GK Dan.
Half time 2 - 1
Second half we made changes seeing CJ, Kieran, and Morgan all come off for the returning Callum, Kaiyden and the debut of Kai.
Henley started with intent keeping posession and trying to create more and looking for the runs of Corey, and Dion, before Corey forced a block tackle seeing the ball go out for a corner, Harvey who took the corner found himself in space after Corey had managed to find a pass through the crowded area seeing Harvey score his first for Henley.
Corey then came up with a quickfire double of his own, with him getting through one on one thanks to a pass from CB and co captain Harry, before placing the shot passed the keeper.
His second came after great pressing from the henley midfield where Dion pressed the left back who played a ball back to his GK, with Corey chasing it down, the GK mistimed his kick which left Corey with an open goal to finish.
Another corner another goal, Kieran again floated the ball in, and Harry and Leighton both challenged for it, seeing Leighton win the header, and score from about 14 yeards out.
Whitley continued to press, and were looking to counter against us, and forced us back a few times, but the calm composed nature of Eli and Harry never looked phased, and then we had the best moment of the game seeing Kai sprint back to win the ball, with cheers and applause from everyone on and off the pitch.
With Leighton, Harvey and Joe all controlling the midfield winning the ball and makimg simple passes Henley found themselves on the front foot again.
Then what I would say were the best two goals of the game, happened, and they werent the best because of the finish, they werent the best because there was some amazing skill, they were the best because they were out and out team goals.
The 7th goal started when GK Dan calmly met a back pass from Harry and then found him with a return pass, and the ball then travelled through the team with 5 more passes before Kieran found the ever willing runner CJ who equalled last seasons goal tally with a hard low finish beating the keeper at the front post.
The 8th goal again started from the defence with Kai winning the ball and then passing it off, before it again was passed aroung 5/6 times before CJ met a through ball on the wing crossing in to find Kaiyden to make it 8.
Needless to say we have come away from our first league game with an emphatic win, against a team who could cause anyone problems on their day, and we thank Shaun and his team for what was a well mannered and well contested game.
Final Score 8-1
Man of the Match today went to Eli, he is someone who wants to play further forward, but his calm and composed nature along with technical ability showd that he will become a big player for us.
