Henley Hockey Club's Ladies 2s secured Champions status, and promotion, with a dominant 8-0 win against Milton Keynes on Saturday - and with two games still left to play it has been a commanding season for the side. Coached by Hayley Rogers and Captained by Emma Buckham-Hedges, the side have enjoyed a season where the team have really gelled and with a mixture of both youth and experience, everyone has had something special to add to the team.

The match began with Henley setting super high intensity and pegging MK into their half early on. The home side thought they had a very early lead when a great ball from forward Hayley Munt was deflected into the goal. Despite the goal being given by the umpires, the honesty of striker Chloe Lyons meant she stepped forward to admit it wasn't her who had touched the ball in and the goal was chalked back off.

Henley were unperturbed by this as the settled back into the game and once again began to dominate. It was Captain-Fantastic, Emma Buckham-Hedges who rightly opened the scoring. After some slick and patient passing down the right - she pounced on the ball as it popped up on the P spot, the GK made the initial save and Hedges was taken out: not to be beaten, she cleverly poked the ball home whilst still on the floor!

Goal 2 was a little scrappier - great play by Anna Wray and Sophie Miller down the right set Munt away again. With her blistering pace, she threw the ball across the baseline for Lyons to retrieve, check backwards and pass it past the keeper.

Henley were really cooking with gas now…Lily Baker intercepting and driving forward with her characteristic quick dribbling, Sophy Rogers and Kirsten Botha hassling and harrying in the middle of the pitch, always trying to play forward; and the impenetrable defending team of dreams Alyx Clarke, Giorgia Fiorentino, Izzy Woolfrey and Anna Wray letting nothing past them and distributing the ball forward with all the class.

Fresh legs came on with Tilly Carter up front and eventual player of the match Maddie Moore in midfield and it was this super sub moment that led to goal 3. Great tenacious work from the pair combined with midfielder Sophy Rogers, forced the ball into the D. It was loose for a moment before Lyons came to retrieve it at the top, unleashing a backboard ripping strike into the bottom corner.

MK had a patch of pressure and joy with some short corners and attacks, but Henley defended well and goal keeper Ellie Bryant pulled off a couple of stellar saves showing off her amazing flexibility!

Despite their success, at half time, both coach and captain noticed a subdued nature about the team - perhaps the pressure and enormity of what was at hand? They urged more energy and excitement for the second half, and boy did the team deliver.

A new gear was found and goal 4 soon came along - fantastic anticipation and a wonderful dribble from Botha forced the ball into the D once again, with Lyon's firing a first time shot across goal into the side netting - what a stunner to open the second half tally with!

The champagne hockey was in full swing now, and the supporters were vocal in showing their appreciation. Henley continued to flood forward…goal 5 was a beautiful team goal, Moore running down the right and finding Lyons at the top of the D, who slotted the ball to Hedges on the right baseline, only for her to pass across the goal finding a well placed Munt who finished clinically.

The next goal was highly similar. Great work down the right once again, this time finding Munt. She timed her characteristic run to the baseline perfectly and pulled it back for Lyons to square to Buckham-Hedges to finish - another team goal.

But still Henley weren’t done. Seemingly unstoppable on the right, another classic run from Munt saw her hit the ball across the D for Lyons to pick up on her reverse and hit into the bottom corner.

In the dying minutes, there was time for just one more goal, and just like last week’s 8th, Botha and Lyons combined to score from their classic penalty corner 1-2 routine.

At the final whistle, champagne celebrations ensued. After a fantastic season where Henley have thoroughly deserved to win their league the team now have two more games with which to savour their success before starting their 2025-26 season in South Central Ladies Div 2 North.