Town march on in Cup

Town gave a workman like performance against Aylesbury & District Premier League P & IC United who have won the Berks & Bucks FA Junior Cup for the last two seasons and had beaten Cookham Dean 6 – 0 and Didcot Town Reserves 6 – 4 in progressing to this fourth round tie.

Woodley got off to the perfect start and were rewarded for their early pressure when Sam Cripps cut in from the right to open the scoring on eleven minutes.

Calling upon their cup experience P & IC United gradually wrestled the midfield from the home side but created few opportunities with the best falling to Town on the counter attack. During this period of control Dan Jewell tackled Jamie Edwards as the forward was going to shoot while Alex Groom chipped Impy Cooke – Chowdhary to see his effort go wide while the dangerous Edwards also headed over the cross bar from a Ben James cross.

However, Town finished the half the stronger with Jamie Fairchild setting Luke Williams free to see his shot saved by Rory Caveill for a corner and Nick Edwards set Cripps free only for the wide man to pull his shot wide when faced with the advancing Caveill.

Town started the second half in determined fashion with Adam Jeffrey shooting at Caveill in the opening minute before Williams doubled the lead five minutes into the half when he shot of the inside of the near post.

Danny Isaiew was introduced for Jeffrey and his movement immediately caused problems with a shot wide as Town continued to press for a third with P & IC’s only chance during this period falling to Dan Farmer.

Williams scored his second on sixty five minutes when he reacted first to Caveill’s parry from Cripps’s shot and the winger was denied his hat trick when his low corner kick evaded every one apart from Dave Edwards who cleared to safety at the far post.

With the game appearing won Town eased off in the final ten minutes which allowed Darren Fox to run unchallenged to reduce the deficit before the same player saw a shot hit the cross bar and cleared by Jin Nightingale with five minutes remaining.

In winning this tie, Town advance to the quarter final stage for the third time in four years where they will renew rivalries at home to Reading Football League Senior Division Highmoor Ibis on 29th January.

Before then, Woodley have the visit of second placed Holyport next weekend to content with in the search for league points.

Cooke - Chowdhary, Jewell, Thomas, Edwards, Nightingale, Baxter, Cripps (Varndell), Holloway (Whitehouse), Fairchild, Jeffrey (Isaiew), Williams Sub not used: Mullen

Attendance: 35