Win over Premier Carterton

Woodley travelled to their Bluefin Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup match at Carterton in the first round to meet a side struggling in the Hellenic Premier Division, so it looked like it would be a tough game for Town but one that was winnerable.

The away side started in impressive style and controlled the opening twenty minutes with a change of formation that resulted in passing and movement. Luke Williams, Chris Hatton, Carl Davies and Eden Peters in his first start were particularly threatening.

The first glimpse of goal came when Craig Hiscock's header hit the post and in the mêlée that followed, Peters hit his shot goalwards and the Carterton’s James Domm pulled off a great save. Davies then went close at the end of a great move that saw Richard Thomas hit a diagonal ball to Jim Nightingale and the centre back volleyed across square to Davies. Davies volleyed acrobatically but his his goal-bound effort was blocked.

Woodley did take the lead when Hatton burst through the home defence after Davies broke down the right wing and he slotted his shot under the advancing Domm on thirty one minutes.

Carterton came back in the remaining fifteen minutes of the half and Dan Jewell had to cover to deny a certain goal but they did equalise on thirty eight minutes with a neat finish from Mark Odam from a deep cross to get themselves back in the game and they grew in confidence after this.

Woodley still looked threatening thought and Williams forced a block from Domm.

Carterton had the better of the opening stages of the second half and Jim Nightingale blocked a decent chance for the home side to take the lead but Woodley got themselves together and began to threaten again.

Jewell shot wide, Peters had an effort stopped on the line as the home keeper was much the busier. Carterton were inches from taking the lead in quick succession. The ball broke from a tackle to the Carterton forward and his shot hit the cross bar and the ball found it's way to another forward following up and his effort again struck the bar and the ball was cleared.

Williams became more influential as the half went on and his mazy runs were causing problems. Paul Wilder replaced Peters and Wilder was straight into the action when he found himself on the end of another flowing move, but from point blank range Domm somehow parried his shot and the ball was cleared.

Williams had a free kick saved brilliantly and it looked as though this game was destined for extra time. However, seven minutes to play, Hatton popped up to score the winner. He got on the ball on the edge of the area and jinked around his marker and shot straight at goal to find the net.

Woodley saw out the last few minutes and deserved their victory in an entertaining game which represents the club’s first ever competitive victory against a Step 5 team and sees them rewarded with a trip to another Premier Division side Witney United

Rose, Jewell, Thomas, Edwards, Nightingale, Baxter, Hatton, Hiscock (Nunn), Peters (Wilder) Davies, L Williams Sub not used: Breeney