United adance in BBFA Intermediate cup

Unlike the recent league encounter that was a tight match, this was a comfortable win for the host in this rearranged county cup tie between the two sides.

From the kick off United set the tone forcing three corners in the opening five minutes. However, Finchampstead gave a reminder that they were dangerous on the break when ex-Woodley Town player Chace Jewell cut in from the left flank steering his shot wide of the far post. This was quickly followed by Freddie Barron taking the ball forward on a long run towards Woodley's goal but his shot was comfortably caught by United’s Alex Reed.

With Abdul Idris influential in midfield and getting forward, he saw a couple of his efforts blocked in the Finchampstead penalty area as United pushed for the opening goal.

The visitor’s keeper, Chris Adams, saved one attempt while Charlie Oakley over hit a cross which went out behind beyond his far post. Although Harry Swabey was involved in a counter attack, Woodley continue to apply pressure and good play involving man of the match Greg Beckett and Kamara allowed Charlie Oakley, with the goal directly in front of him, to shoot at the centre of the goal mouth with a low shot which went between the legs of Adams to open the scoring on twenty minutes.

Two minutes later Oakley saw a low cross flash across the face of the visitors’ goal area and evade all oncoming Woodley players.

Finchampstead responded and should have equalized but the unmarked Chris Dean headed weakly towards Alex Reed. With their best chance gone Beckett twice had opportunities to extend the lead but at the break United lead by the solitary goal.

Woodley started the second half strongly with Danny Horscroft seeing a goal disallowed for offside with Josh Drew extending the lead three minutes after the restart by putting the ball through Adams’ legs following good play involving Joe Barley and Kamara.

Finchampstead resorted to shooting from range seeing most efforts going out for goal kicks before Oakley was fouled by Adams and Beckett converting the resulting penalty kick on the hour.

This brought a change in the visitors’ formation but to no avail as substitute Carl Prestidge’s low cross from the right was steered home from close range by Oakey after sixty eight minutes.

With the match winding down, two minutes from time Barley was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area which allowed Harry Swabey to score Finchampstead consolation goal.

Woodley’s reward is a trip to East Berks Football League members FC Beaconsfield on 3 December 2016.

Read, Morgan, Turner, Nicholls, Greenwood, Barley. Drew (Prestidge), A. Kamara, Oakley, Horscroft (Thomas), Beckett (Kang)

Subs not used: I.Kamara, Wilson.