Woodley United hit back at the first attempt after defeat at Abingdon Town in their Hellenic League Division 1 East opener on Saturday to secure a comprehensive victory over Berkshire rivals AFC Aldermaston at Rivermoor on Tuesday night. Aldermaston themselves have now shipped nine goals in suffering two defeats from two.
Given that both sides had suffered heavy defeats in losing starts it was perhaps little surprise that there was an open start to this encounter.
Luke Wayborn’s cross from the right was begging to be knocked home by Lamin Ceesay but the Woodley frontman was unable to make contact in front of goal. Luke Farrugia and Karl Simms linked up nicely for the Atom Men only for Pele Hagger to come to Woodley’s rescue before Ceesay found himself in front of goal for the hosts, only to find goalbound efforts twice blocked.
A Woodley free-kick from the right was touched wide by Max Laschok at the far post before Aldermaston had a gilt-edged chance to take the lead. Charley Tuttle – son of Reading-born former Crystal Palace defender and visiting manager Dave Tuttle – crossed for Anton Miller who contrived to miss the target with the goal gaping.
Inevitably after that let-off, Woodley punished Aldermaston from their very next attack. Ceesay found the far corner with a composed finish from the edge of the six-yard box to open the scoring. Miller passed up another opportunity for the West Berkshire side, his glancing header from a corner drifting off target and then shortly before the break Laschok picked himself up to score from the spot having himself been clearly dragged down in the box.
Ceesay wasted a chance to double his tally after Laschok had cleverly dummied a Toby Briggs pull back, failing to even trouble Iain McCullley in the Aldermaston goal. That miss looked as if it might prove costly when substitute Charlie Knight bundled home a corner two minutes into the second half to reduce the arrears but there was daylight between the sides again just after the hour mark when former Maidenhead United Academy product Brandon Curtis finished delightfully into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Woodley enjoyed the lion’s share of possession thereafter but further chances of note only came along towards the end of the match. Curtis’s former Maidenhead teammate Tommy Boyd came off the bench to sweep home the hosts fourth goal at the far post after good work by fellow substitute Ben Anderson. Then in time added on Laschok firstly saw his effort cleared off the line by Gary Smith having rounded McCulley before being denied by Jack McCormack moments later following some questionable Aldermaston defending.
For Jamie Williams men some light relief after a poor start to the season, for Dave Tuttle it is back to the drawing board.
