17/18 season campaign concludes with semi-final defeat

Two minutes in saw United temporarily down to ten men when Sam Guze needed treatment off the pitch to a head wound.

With the numbers advantage, the hosts went close multiple times. The first chance fell to Steve Robertson who just missed to the right from twenty yards. Paul Alder saw his header narrowly miss the target after getting on the end of a deep free kick whilst Robertson headed a right wing cross wide.

After Guze was allowed back on, Woodley got going. Danny Horscroft had a left wing cross flash across the six yard box before Haydon Richardson saw his shot blocked in a frantic start to the game.

The home side took the lead on fifteen minutes from a softly awarded penalty. Jim Glover went down the middle putting his side ahead with the first shot of the game on target.

Moments after the goal saw a Guze cross from the right claimed by Curtis Meare; however the Wantage goalie came very close to carrying the ball over his own goal line.

United had to make an early change on twenty four minutes when Pele Hagger had to come off due an injury. He was replaced by Carl Prestidge.

After weathering the early storm, Woodley were matching their opposition who only missed out on promotion by a couple of points. Richardson had another shot blocked before Horscroft saw his free kick go just over Meare's cross bar.

Ten minutes before the break saw a good spell by Town. Nick Thorne had his shot saved by Alex Reed, Harvey Scholes effort from the right narrowly missed to the left and Robertson forced Reed into a very good stop diving to his left with a well struck half-volley.

The final two chances of the half fell to United. Decent play by Teddy Thomas on the left saw him pick out Horscroft at the near post; making good contact he couldn't quite wrap his foot around the ball enough meaning his shot just missed to the left. This was followed up by Thomas heading an Idris Kamara cross goal-wards that Meare comfortably gathered.

HT Wantage Town 1-0 Woodley United

Woodley started the second half well. Richardson was bundled over in the box with no penalty given before Guze had a shot from the right blocked.

The scores were level on fifty one minutes with the goal of the game. Some excellent trickery by Guze on the right saw him beat his man multiple times before finding Horscroft with a low cross who smashed into the right corner.

Horscroft then had a shot on the turn miss to the left before United tweaked things with Prestidge joining Richardson up top and Thomas moving out to the left.

Wantage's first chance of the half fell to substitute Roger James who forced Reed into another good stop with a curling shot destined for the right corner.

James then turned provider when he picked out Robertson who restored his side's lead from close range on sixty five minutes.

The sides exchanged shots with twenty minutes to go, with the hosts opportunity coming when United gave up possession deep in their own half. However Robertson could not take advantage when he shot wide.

Woodley's final chance came courtesy of a Prestidge free kick that missed to the right.

The hosts were awarded a second penalty on eighty minutes when Toby Bridges was adjudged to have fouled his man. Glover once again stepped up but was denied by Reed.

With twelve minutes to go, United made their second change when Callum Samuel-Harman replaced Dave Morgan. A final change was made on eighty seven minutes; Bridges made way for Toby Briggs.

Town got a third deep into injury time when James fired a low shot in off the left post.

FT Wantage Town 3-1 Woodley United