In isolation, Ransomes Sports encounter with Henley Ath Res was such a rollercoaster that detailed answers from either side should probably not be sought. But, for Ransomes, there comes a point when their plucky endeavours of recent weeks deserved a bit of luck, and this has finally arrived with an unexpected, but valuable win over unbeaten Henley.
Ransomes did not drop their heads after an opening goal from the visitors Bradley Vince on 10 minutes. As Henley turned defence into attack with a direct approach, the alert striker got the better of Craig Rumens in a foot race to fire past Jack Friston, and Ransomes were flailing.
For the opening half hour, Henley kept pushing, some of their passing sequences catching the eye as they frequently over-loaded Ransomes on either flank. Defeat looked inevitable for the home side during this period as Henley were superior, controlling the play and their opponents. They looked like streaking away with the game and their next goal seemed to be in the post but it never arrived – it was a concern for the visitors. A goal disallowed, rightly for offside, added to their frustration.
Ransomes were living on the edge. It had been a bruising game so far but Henley continued to frequently fluff their lines in front of goal. The home side and Jack Friston were being peppered from all angles but Henley lacked the ability to kill off the game as Ransomes held firm. Florea, in the visitor’s goal, had barely been troubled in the first half, but down the other end, Jack Friston had to continually be on his toes to ensure that Henley did not extend their lead before the interval.
If the first half had been a story of Henley’s dominance, matters improved after the break for Ransomes, and Mo Fike helped the home side back up from the canvas. Ransomes only needed to create something, and when they did on 47 minutes, the skipper made it count. It came from a free kick whipped over from the left and into the box by Jack Severy. Evading the retreating Henley back line, Mo Fike timed his run to lift home at the far post from inside the six-yard box and Ransomes were level. It was a goal that swelled the Ransomes feelgood factor – they now had the clarity and belief.
Henley could hardly have started the second half any worse, and Ransomes were to punish them even further just 11 minutes later. Joe Francis had punched a hole through the Henley defence with his run into the penalty area and he coaxed a clumsy and reckless challenge which resulted in a clear penalty. The concession unnerved Henley but not Reece Dobson, as this inviting opportunity from 12 yards was cooly converted to give Ransomes a come-back lead.
Henley looked determined to find a way back into the game. They attempted to reassert their earlier monopolisation, but they struggled to hurt Ransomes. Progress from here was measured by whether Ransomes could grind out a result against their hitherto unbeaten opponents with more than 30 minutes left. Behold the steelier, sturdier, more structured version of Ransomes, now more in evidence than in the earlier part of the season.
As the clock ticked down, there was more than a hint that Henley would suffer from their earlier profligacy as frustration crept into their game. Yet more of the same followed, but Ransomes defence remained rock solid, and when they did creak, Jack Friston made a late double save to maintain the home sides lead, and ensure the victory.
It had been a hard-fought, intriguing, tense battle with Ransomes putting their supporters through the wringer as they held on. Perhaps that was why the celebrations were so raucous at the final whistle. Ransomes had done it, and they had the result to energise their season, their self-belief, and it was one they deserved.