Report: Woodley United earn first three points of the season

Woodley United's Jake Nicholls. Photo: Neil Graham.
Woodley United's Jake Nicholls. Photo: Neil Graham.

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Woodley United gave a debut to Ian Davies who couldn’t have wished for a better start to life at his new club leading the line well and netting twice before the break. An own goal between Davies’ brace meant United went into the interval with a three goal lead. Two second half goals by the visitors set up a nervous finale, but Woodley held on for a welcome three points.

The home side started well; Nathanael Robinson saw his cross headed into the side netting by a Binfield player.

On nine minutes United took the lead with a well-worked goal. Outnumbering their opponents on a counter, Robinson found Danny Horscroft on the left wing who rolled the ball across to Davies who made no mistake from eight yards.

Woodley were forced into an early change six minutes after the goal when Greg Beckett made way for Carl Prestidge. This saw Robinson switch wings with Prestidge playing on the right.

Binfield came close to an equaliser minutes after the change when they struck the woodwork twice in quick succession. The first chance saw Jack Thompson-Wheeler head a Joss Millar cross onto the left post with United unsuccessfully challenging for offside. Moments later, Harry Lee saw his header from a right wing cross cannon off Alex Reed’s crossbar.

Binfield's Joss Millar. Photo: Colin Byers.
Binfield’s Joss Millar. Photo: Colin Byers.

Midway through the half, a nice Woodley move started by Ashley Ledger winning possession just outside his box; he found Horscroft who in turn picked out Robinson who over hit his left wing cross to Davies.

United doubled their lead five minutes before the break in fortunate circumstances when Binfield defender Jeff Brown headed a Robinson free kick into his own net.

Davies then got his second on forty four minutes with a well taken goal from the left side of the box.

The second period started with Woodley centre backs Idris Kamara and Michael Porter doing well to cut out crosses. The former’s acrobatic clearance looked spectacular whilst the latter did really well to head out a dangerous delivery.

United made a second change on fifty four minutes when Marvin Hinds replaced Prestidge.

Forward Davies then showed great strength to shrug off his marker before seeing a shot from eighteen yards blocked for a corner.

Binfield got back into the game on sixty six minutes with a cracking strike from a set piece. Thirty plus yards out, Josh Howell beat Reed with a well hit free kick into the top left corner.

The same player was then thwarted by Reed who showed good hands to catch from another set piece this time taken from slightly nearer to the goal than the previous one.

Woodley United goalkeeper Alex Reed. Photo: Neil Graham.
Woodley United goalkeeper Alex Reed. Photo: Neil Graham.

Reed maintained his side’s two goal cushion with sixteen minutes to go, rushing off his line bravely to smother Joss Millar’s shot from the right side of the box.

Sixty seconds later, Woodley made their final change. Amin Khomsi came on for Robinson.

The hosts came within inches of wrapping up the three points in the final stages when Porter missed to the right from the edge of the box after bringing down a right wing corner.

Binfield got their second with two minutes to go thanks to a neat finish from Brad Pagliaroli. Picking up the ball on the right, he cut across United’s eighteen yard box before firing a low drive with his left foot into the right corner.

No further chances for either team were created, meaning a team from Woodley picked up their first ever three points at this level. A fantastic achievement for the club and town!

Woodley United: Reed, Greenwood, Turner, Nicholls, I Kamara, Porter, Beckett (Prestidge) (Hinds), Ledger), Davies, Horscroft, Robinson (Khomsi) Sub not used: Davies, Barley

Main image: Jake Nicholls by Neil Graham.

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