United bow out of Floodlit Cup

By Chris Burnett

United went into their Perpetua Press Hellenic Floodlit Cup third round tie with Lydney Town looking to knock out another Hellenic Premier side.

Despite Woodley bossing possession in the early stages it was the visitors who had the game's first few chances. Declan Morley-Lyne had a shot blocked from the left side of the box before the same player headed over a right wing cross.

United were playing well without creating many clear cut chances; Liam Wilson picked out Carl Prestidge who headed back across goal but couldn't find a blue shirt allowing Lydney to clear.

Mid way through the half saw two corners cause real problems for Woodley. Abdul Kamara had to head off his own goal line after centre back Idris Kamara had inadvertently headed towards his own goal. Minutes later United cleared another set piece off their line; the rebound fell invitingly to a Lydney player who forced Alex Reed in the home goal into a good stop.

On thirty two minutes Lydney went ahead when a nice turn in the box by Lewis Bamford freed up some space allowing him to find the right corner from fifteen yards.

Looking for an immediate response Greg Beckett saw a shot smothered by Richard Thomas in the Town goal after a Woodley counter attack.

The final chance of the half fell to Beckett who tested Thomas after cutting in from the left flank.

HT Woodley United 0-1 Lydney Town

Minutes after the restart Lydney thought they had doubled their lead, only to see the goal disallowed for offside.

United tied the game on fifty eight minutes with a really good goal. Picking up the ball just inside the Lydney half Wilson ran at pace towards goal before passing to Jake Nicholls who placed his shot into the right corner from just inside the box.

This was the catalyst for a crazy six minute spell that produced goals and chances. Less than sixty seconds after the equaliser, Beckett had a shot cleared off the line before Wilson got his second assist of the evening when he picked out Beckett with a left wing cross who made no mistake from ten yards.

Before Lydney kicked off Woodley made a change. Sukhi King replaced Danny Greenwood. This saw Kang go to left back and Luke Turner move over to the right.

The scores were level once again on sixty four minutes when Morley-Lyne converted a very harshly awarded penalty.

United made another substitution with twelve minutes left; Ryan Tye came on for Prestidge.

The game wound down with chances for Lydney. Bamford missed to the right from distance before another long range effort cannoned back off the bar.

FT Woodley United 2-2 Lydney Town

Town retook the lead three minutes into extra time when Morley-Lyne got his second of the game firing in at the second attempt after Reed saved his initial effort.

Woodley made their final change mid way through the half when Wilson made way for Teddy Thomas.

Despite their busy schedule United never gave up. Beckett dragged his shot wide after a good run before having a shot saved from a tight angle on the right.

With three minutes to go Lydney sealed the win when substitute Liam Thomas netted from the right side of the box.

AET Woodley United 2-4 Lydney Town