Town start 2015 with narrow loss

With Reading YMCA's pitch not playable the decision was made on Saturday morning to switch the match to Scours Lane.

Town started well with Jordan Goddard looking dangerous on the left wing, his trickery saw him bundled over just outside the box. Adam Cashin-Murray's set piece was headed clear before Woodley could get a head on it. Three minutes in and the game had its first shot; Michael Alleyne struck the ball well from all of thirty yards but David Lyons in the Reading goal dealt with it comfortably.

Five minutes in and Reading got going. Town skipper Gary Smith had to be alert to cut out a through ball from the left with a last ditch slide tackle. Reading's first opportunity was pure route one; a massive kick up the field by Lyons found Johnny Adey who shot over from the right side of the Town box. Just past the ten minute mark and Reading had the ball in the back of the net. Fortunately for Town, the linesman had flagged for offside.

Woodley were playing some good stuff but struggling to create clear cut chances. Another Alleyne effort from distance missed to the right. Twenty one minutes in and Reading took the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Matty Drake finished well to the bottom right corner after his initial shot was blocked and the rebound fell perfectly for him.

Town continued to play some decent football. First a lovely Seun Odusanya flick found David Stevens whose shot was saved by Lyons, then a Goddard cross was volleyed wide by Cashin-Murray at the back post. Ten minutes before the break and Woodley nearly levelled the game when Ben Gonzalez' shot beat Lyons only for a defender to clear from practically the goal line.

The miss was nearly immediately punished when Dan Donegan blazed over from ten yards after finding space. Up the other end, Cashin-Murray was denied by Lyons who turned behind an ambitious bicycle kick; the resulting corner was won at the near post by Alleyne but Lyons was once again positioned well to make the save. Those were the final chances of an even half.

HT Woodley Town 0-1 Reading YMCA

Town started the second period with a change. Matt Brookling departed due to a foot injury and was replaced by Victor Martinez Murillo who played right wing with Gonzalez dropping back to full back.

The half started with half chances to both teams. A wonderful Stevens corner just alluded Smith at the back post then Donegan fired over after a Drake free kick was blocked by the Woodley wall. On the hour Town made their penultimate change when Alleyne made way for Sam Barham.

Martinez Murillo was making a difference since his introduction and his vision set up Odusanya for Town's best chance so far; played in on the right, Seun's effort just missed to the left. Odusanya, who battled hard all afternoon, then saw a shot deflect off a red shirt for another Woodley set piece which came to nothing.

Up the other end, Dan Smith was off his line quickly to thwart Ryan Adams; then the same player was denied by another fine Gary Smith tackle. The resulting corner was headed in but the ref bought play back for a foul. As the game entered its final stages Reading were looking more likely to increase their lead than Town were to level the game.

Ten minutes to go and Woodley made their final change when Steven Campbell replaced Odusanya. The final moments of the game saw Dan Smith pull off several good saves that earned him his man of the match award. Firstly he denied Adams with his feet, then saved from the same player from almost point blank, then once again stopped Adams after he received a pass from Drake.

Moments later it was full time. Town had spells where they played some good stuff but failed to muster many clear chances.

FT Woodley Town 0-1 Reading YMCA

Woodley Town
D. Smith, Brookling (Martinez Murillo), Molloy, G. Smith, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Goddard, Cashin-Murray, Alleyne (Barham), Stevens, Odusanya (Campbell)

Unused sub
Stiff