Finch Defeat Town

Woodley started well in difficult conditions with strong winds. Michael Alleyne showed good composure to get away from his man with a nice bit of skill before heading clear on the edge of the Town box. Seven minutes in and the first shot of the game went to the home side; Nathan Onreat-Wells' shot was tamely struck and gathered easily by Dan Smith.

As the wind got stronger, Finchampstead defender Harry Swabey had to be alert to cut out a Town through ball before the home side's captain Adam Barnard blocked a Steven Campbell effort. Town continued to look the more dangerous and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Adam Cashin-Murray was shoved in the back after a mix up in the home defence.

Just past the ten minute mark saw Woodley go within inches of taking the lead when captain Gary Smith headed against the bar following a Cashin-Murray corner. Minutes later Finchampstead nearly got the game's first goal. Greg Alexander's cross from the right found Ryan Tye whose shot was inadvertently blocked by a team mate and Woodley were able to scramble clear from practically their own goal line.

The game was being played at a frantic pace and was end to end; a quickly taken Cashin-Murray free kick was snuffed out by Swabey, a timely tackle as if the ball had reached Campbell, he would have been through on goal. Town were having a lot of the ball; a run and cross from right back Jonathan Malone was dummied by Cashin-Murray but no Town player read it and the home side cleared. The latter then whipped in a fantastic cross which was scrambled clear with Campbell waiting to pounce.

Half an hour into the game and both teams were guilty of several offsides. The home side's Sam Price produced a routine save from Dan Smith from twenty two yards before they took the lead. Trying to play it out from the back, Town were caught in possession when Alexander cut out a Gary Smith pass before coolly slotting home. The goal spurned on the home team who were second best before they went ahead. A Chris Dean corner found Swabery whose shot went high and wide. Then Malone was at full stretch to thwart an attack with a perfectly timed slide tackle on the edge of the box.

Five minutes before the break, a Cashin-Murray free kick was mishandled by Tom Bryant; Andres Rodriguez was quickest to react but his well struck shot was well blocked. The final chance of an even half was skied by Town midfielder David Stevens.

HT Finchampstead 1-0 Woodley Town

Finchampstead doubled their lead two minutes into the second half. A long ball from the back found Onreat-Wells who shrugged off a challenge before firing past Smith into the bottom left corner. Woodley pressed on; debutant Josh Blackwood won a free kick, the set piece found Cashin-Murray whose effort from twenty yards just flashed wide of the right post. Then a Stevens effort was easily saved by Bryant just before the hour.

Twenty five minutes to go and Town made their first change when Seun Odusanya replaced Campbell. Seven minutes later and Town got the goal that their possession merited, Cashin-Murray finishing well after picking up a Jordan Goddard pass. Immediately after the goal, Town made their penultimate change when David Stevens made way for Ben Gonzalez.

Woodley carried on carving out chances; a Blackwood cross from the right was cleared only as far as Cashin-Murray whose effort was deflected wide. Town made their final change with the game entering its final ten minutes. Victor Martinez came on for Goddard.

Cashin-Murray was then involved in another penalty claim when his shot was blocked; several Town players claimed the ball was stopped by a Finchampstead hand although to be fair it certainly wasn't hand to ball and the shot was fiercely struck. Looking to hit Woodley on the counter, Alleyne showed good defensive awareness to cut out a cross from the right before Alexander shot straight at Smith.

With the game into stoppage time Odusanya was bundled over just outside the box. With twenty men in the area Matt Molloy's free kick couldn't find a Town head and the ref blew for full time as soon as Finchampstead cleared. On the balance of play, Town probably felt they had done enough to earn a point.

FT Finchampstead 2-1 Woodley Town

Woodley Town
D, Smith, Malone, Molloy, Rodriguez, G, Smith, Alleyne, Blackwood, Cashin-Murray, Campbell (Odusanya), Stevens (Gonzalez), Goddard (Martinez)

Unused Subs
Groves, Brookling, Stiff