Town "Cashin" in the cup and progress to next round!

Woodley Town progressed to the round of 32 of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup with this hard fought win against a battling Hurst from the Thames Valley Premier league.

Manager, Damien Marshall, was missing ten players from the first team squad including all four of his strikers and influential midfielder, Carlton Cox. He started with Harry Stiff stepping in for Dan Smith in goal, Keyron Hylton alongside skipper Gary Smith in the centre of the back four, Ben Marshall joining Jason Awberry and Sam Barham in midfield and Mikey Alleyne up front flanked by Doug Groves and Adam Cashin-Murray. Ben Gonzalez and Matt Molloy started at full back.

In a bright opening, Town came close when Molloy's cross was volleyed over by Groves. In the ninth minute, a corner superbly whipped across by Cashin-Murray was headed in the bottom corner by Groves to give the away side the lead. Keyron Hylton caused a distraction by making a run to the front post, taking two defenders with him.

Though Town looked comfortable in possession, Hurst pushed forward causing the Town defence problems. In the twenty fourth minute Stiff uncharacteristically spilled the ball allowing a Hurst forward time to set up a strike. As the ball headed goal ward, Woodley skipper, Gary Smith, stretched out a limb to divert the ball over the bar.

The home side kept the pressure on and their skipper, Alfie Stagg struck a volley well but just over the bar. However, Hurst got parity shortly after in bizarre circumstances. Town defender Hylton, under pressure from the left winger, went down heavily and handled the ball expecting to be given a free kick. Unfortunately the referee didn't see it that way and awarded Hurst a penalty. Shaun Bannon stepped up to equalise from the spot.

In a poor ten minutes for Woodley, Hurst failed to take a fantastic chance to go 2-1 up, substitute and ex Town player Dave Jackman missing a header from just two yards out.

The second half started like the first with Woodley passing the ball well and looking the better side. In the 47th minute, a decent run and pass from Alleyne set up Groves whose shot went over the bar. Cashin-Murray was finding space and looking increasingly dangerous. He slipped the ball through to Groves but the keeper just got there first.

Molloy was yellow carded after a skirmish with Stagg. Seconds later Cashin-Murray put Town back in front. Gary Smith's long cross field pass found the winger who cut inside, looked for a team mate, but then decided to go for goal himself, smashing it past Matt Quilter in goal.

It was almost three when Alleyne struck a sweet right foot beating the keeper but rebounding off the upright. As Town really dominated this part of the game, the lively Marshall got in the act with some nice skill and powerful shot just wide of the target.

A Cashin-Murray free kick missed to the left of the post then a Groves & Alleyne one two nearly created a chance but the defender cleared.

Cashin-Murray got himself booked for dissent after being penalised for a foul. Subs Matt Brookling and Danny Fletcher were brought on for Marshall and the injured Barham, the former stepping in at right back with Gonzalez pushing up.

As the minutes counted down, Craig Cox replaced Groves on the left.

Hurst sensed time was nearly up and pushed up the park when possible, occasionally causing some panic. With just nine minutes to go, a scrap on the six yard line led to a shot which Stiff in Woodley's goal did brilliantly to tip over.

This was the nearest Hurst came to an equaliser though Hylton showed pace to clean up when it looked like Stagg might be clear on goal.

The whistle blew to signal the end of the match and Woodley Town were in the draw for the next round.

Stiff, Gonzalez, Molloy, Hylton, G Smith, Awbery, Barham (Fletcher), Cashin-Murray, Alleyne, Marshall (Brookling), Groves (Craig Cox). Sub unused: D Smith