Adam cashes in with his head

Damien Marshall’s new look Woodley Town earned an excellent point at Headington against the fourth best Division 1 East team from last season. Although some of the players looked disappointed at the final whistle not to have converted pressure to goals in the second half, the reality is that a lot of strong teams will come away from this fixture with nothing to show.

Due to the Reading festival, Marshall was short of three players who had started at Penn & Tylers and a fourth who has left the club. The strength of the squad was shown as Matt Molloy came in at left wing back, Keyron Hylton at centre half, Seun Odusanya up front and club captain, Gary Smith, was fit enough to start his first match. Sam Barham was rewarded for his excellent spell coming on at Penn with a start ahead of Jordan Goddard who started on the bench.

In the early stages of the match, Town looked the stronger side pressing deep into the Amateurs’ half on several occasions and winning a string of free kicks in dangerous positions. Against the run of play, though, the home side took the lead on twenty three minutes when the ball was cut back from the left and Tom Payne placed a left foot shot perfectly inside the keeper’s right hand post.

Town were shaken by this and their play became a little ragged as Headington started to win the midfield battles. Then, with the half time break only minutes away, a free kick was awarded forty yards out on the right hand side. Ben Gonzalez floated across an inviting ball which Adam Cashin-Murray got a head to. The ball seemed to be heading for the left side of goal when a defender headed it back across his own line to signal the equaliser.

After Marshall’s half time team talk, Town came out in pouring rain with a positive attitude, taking the game to the home side. Hylton had a chance arising from another free kick but missed the target. Another raid on goal, involving some neat passing, set up Steve Campbell for a chance but his left foot shot sailed over the bar. A few minutes later a great pass from Molloy set up Odusanya for a one on one with the keeper but, to everyone’s surprise the assistant ref raised his flag.

After around the hour mark, Marshall replaced Campbell and Barham with Lemar Maycock and Goddard. Maycock’s pace was immediately evident on the right and one raid to the by line set up Odusanya for a shot which a defender did well to parry wide Odusanya also came close with a low shot that Steve Skyrme in the Headington goal did well to get a hand to.

As time passed so the home side started to come back into the match and Dan Smith was called on twice to make saves, including one from point blank range to keep out Luke Cuff. For the last five minutes, Steve Weston replaced the hard-working Carlton Cox.

Thankfully, despite some late home pressure, there was no repeat of the Penn & Tyler panic towards the ninetieth minute and the game ended in a 1 - 1 draw. Cashin - Murray was the stand-out player for Woodley Town on the day, showing superb technique throughout.

Next up for Town is a home fixture versus Didcot Town Reserves on Saturday 30th August.

Smith, Gonzalez, Molloy, Hylton, Smith, Alleyne, Carlton Cox (Weston), Cashin – Murray, Campbell (Maycock), Barham (Goddard), Odusanya Sub not use Craig Cox

Attendance 24