Third straight league win for first team

Woodley Town went into their midweek game with Finchampstead looking to put Saturday's disappointing defeat behind them and in the process string together three consecutive league wins for only the second time this season.

It was Woodley who had the game's first shot. George Dallarda saw his powerful shot from just outside the Finchampstead area blocked by a defender; this took all the pace off the ball and Tom Bryant in the away goal was able to save easily.

Eight minutes into the game and the visitors started to take control. Nathan Onreat-Wells shot over from the left side of the box before Town keeper Dan Smith showed that he's equally good with his feet as he is with his hands when he calmly dribbled the ball back into his area before picking the ball up.

Finchampstead continually looked like they were going to get the game''s first goal. Ryan Tye missed to the left from just inside the Town box whilst a toe poked effort narrowly missed Smith's right post. The shots continued to rain down on Woodley's goal. Sam Green hooked a shot goalwards following a corner which Smith caught comfortably before a mistake by the Wodley keeper saw a Finchampstead shot end up on the roof of the Town net.

Twenty five minutes gone and the visitors went ahead when a through ball found Tye who slotted past Smith into the bottom left corner. Five minutes later Town equalised when a superb cross from left back Jordan Goddard was headed in by Steven Campbell.

The goal signalled a turning point in the game as Woodley started to take control, dominating possession and creating several clear cut chances. A Dallarda cross from the right flashed across the Finchampstead six yard box whilst David Stevens, who was captaining the side, saw his free kick from the right wing cleared to Dallarda whose shot from eighteen yards was parried by Bryant to Campbell whose shot was blocked by a defender on the line.

The half ended with both teams trading shots. Onreat-Wells missed to the right before a Campbell bicycle kick sailed over.

HT Woodley Town 1-1 Finchampstead

It was Town who had the first shot after the break. Jordan Goddard struck his effort from thirty yards powerfully but it was straight at Bryant who had no problem dealing with it. Moments later Woodley made their first change when Campbell made way for Seun Odusanya. The former had not recovered from landing awkwardly at the end of the first half.

Town pressed on; a great run by centre back Timon Douglin ended with a cross from the left being cleared by Fred Barton at the back post before Finchampstead took the lead for the second time. It was danger man Tye who got his second of the evening when he ghosted in unmarked to turn home a cross from the right from very close range.

If going behind against the run of play wasn't bad enough for Town the rotten luck continued when a powerful Stevens shot was inadvertently blocked by a Woodley player! On the hour Odusanya showed fantastic strength just inside the Finchampstead half to retain possession, passing out to Doug Groves on the left flank. Groves strode forward before whipping in an accurate cross which Odusanya, off balance, put just wide.

Woodley were moving the ball around really well. A nice move ended with right back Jon Malone winning a corner. The initial set piece was scrambled clear at the near post whilst the follow-up was headed over by Town midfielder Adam Bygrave. Twenty minutes from time Town deservedly levelled when Dallarda won a penalty; dusting himself off he converted low to the keeper''s right.

The home side were being presented with lots of set pieces. Adam Cashin-Murray drew a foul just outside the Finchampstead area, the free kick from Dallarda clipped the top of the wall and was cleared. It was another Woodley free kick that saw them taking the lead for the first time. The free kick on the left was only cleared to Groves twenty two yards out; taking a touch he saw his controlled effort soar into the top left corner! Goal of the night, and one of Town's best of the season.

With the game entering its final ten minutes Max Brown replaced Groves. The game was now being played entirely in the Finchampstead half and with four minutes remaining Woodley made sure when Bygrave headed in his first for the team following a Stevens' free kick. Two minutes to go and Woodley made their final change when Cashin-Murray made way for Ben Gonzalez.

An excellent last sixty minutes for Woodley sees them up to sixth in the league.

FT Woodley Town 4-2 Finchampstead

Woodley Town
D. Smith, Malone, Goddard, Doe, Douglin, Bygrave, Dallarda, Cashin-Murray (Gonzalez), Campbell (Odusanya), Stevens, Groves (Brown)

Unused subs
Stiff, Brookling