United still looking for first points of season

United's run of long away trips continued this afternoon when they visited Headington. The hosts were looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season whilst Woodley were looking to pick up their first points of the new campaign.

The home side started well; Ben Green saw his shot from eighteen yards charged down before Woodley full back Jordan Goddard tracked his man well and was able to clear following a long ball from the back.

Thirteen minutes in saw Headington camped in the United half. An Aftab Hafiz strike from the right side of the box cannoned off the bar whilst at the other end Woodley created their first and best chance of the afternoon when a sublime Carlton Cox pass put Prince Alozi in on the right. The United winger looked up and was able to pick out Bevan Van Wyk who was in space just outside the box; his shot was struck firmly but well saved by Harry Jenkins in the home goal; Seun Odusanya reacted quickest but just missed to the right.

The hosts continued to dominate and hit the bar for the second time in the opening twenty minutes when Drew Fowler volleyed goalwards after receiving a cross from the left. United were struggling to create any momentum. When they did venture forward they were restricted to long range shots. Carlton Cox, who was making his first league appearance of the season, tested Jenkins from forty yards.

United were struggling to defend set pieces and were thankful to Dan Smith in goal to turn over a Fowler header after he found acres of space. Smith then saved well from a low Shaun Jacob shot then tipped over another Fowler header from the resultant corner.

The half ended with Woodley forward Omar Cofie heading a Goddard cross at Jenkins.

HT Headington Amateurs 0-0 Woodley United

Woodley started the second half with a change. Reuben Norville replaced debutant Simeon Blackwood-Udain. This saw Andres Rodrigues moved from centre back into midfield with Norville joining Matt Brookling at the heart of the United defence.

United improved after the break and had spells where they dominated possession but were missing the killer ball. Their best chance since the restart saw Odusanya miss to the left after picking up a cross field pass from Cox.

On the hour mark Odusanya was cautioned for a foul just inside the Headington half before Norville did well to block a Hafiz shot. Seventeen minutes from time saw Headington get the game's only goal when Fowler bundled home from close range after Woodley failed to deal with a corner from the right.

Before kicking off United made their second change when Cofie made way for Sam Skehan, then eight minutes before the end made their final change when Zack Pearce replaced Van Wyk. This saw Goddard pushed into midfield with Pearce slotting in at full back.

United's last chance of the game fell to Odusanya who skewed well wide at the back post from an Alozi cross. At the other end Green nearly put the game to bed when he got on the end of a perfectly weighted through ball. Fortunately for Woodley the Headington man sliced wide due to pressure from Norville.

FT Headington Amateurs 1-0 Woodley United

Woodley United
1. Smith, 2. Phillip, 3. Goddard, 4. Blackwood-Udain (Norville), 5. Brookling, 6. Rodriguez, 7. Van Wyk (Pearce), 8. Cox, 9. Cofie (Skehan ), 10. Odusanya, 11. Alozie

Unused Subs
12. Quail, 16 Bridges