Town and Finch in eventful draw

Woodley and Finchampstead battled out an eventful draw at East Park Farm, with both the goals coming within a minute of each other. The game will however be remembered for a terrible injury sustained by Finchampstead’s best player on the day, Dwayne Hamilton and all at Woodley Town wish him a speedy recovery.

As in the previous match with Henley Town, Town enjoyed the better of the opening twenty five minutes but were unable to convert their possession into a lead.

Woodley had the first chance with Finches ‘keeper Jack Skinner catching Danny Isaiew’s header with ease before Chris Hollis had rare visitors shot that forced Town’s Imram Cooke – Chowdhary to push wide.

Tom Williams saw Skinner parry a shot before blocking Jamie Fairchild’s follow up while Nick Edwards had a header from a Fairchild corner go just over the bar before Edwards lifted an effort too high from a tight angle as the ball fell in the area.

Isaiew also saw Skinner save well following a shot from a Richard Thomas cross.

Finchampstead rode out the Town pressure and slowly started to attack Woodley with Hamilton and James Brazier involved in much of their play.

Hamilton in particular was causing plenty of problems with his strong running and when he took a tumble under a challenge, where there was minimal contact from Warren Baxter, a penalty was awarded. Town’s man of the match Cooke - Chowdhary was equal to Dan Willis’ spot kick diving to his right to keep the scores level at the break.

The second half was a more open game with Willis clearing a Craig Hiscock shot of the line before the away side took the lead when left back Adam Merritt travelled across the pitch and into the Town’s penalty area to hit a shot travelling wide, but Jim Nightingale could only direct it into his own net on fifty five minutes.

Woodley responded in the perfect manner by going straight down the field and levelling things. Fairchild played a great pass into Williams’ path and the in form winger smashed his shot past the helpless Skinner from the edge of the area.

Rob Morley’s replacement, Billy Gordon, created a good chance for Fairchild at the near post but he steered his effort wide. With half an hour remaining a rash Fairchild challenge ended in Hamilton’s injury and the Woodley man received his marching orders with and a long delay followed.

From the restart it was Woodley who looked to press the away side back. Edwards had a left footed drive tipped over and Gordon shot wide. Dan Jewell was fouled and Hiscock hit the resulting free kick just wide.

Finch had two good chances to win themselves. The first was blazed over and then after Gordon had given the ball away in a dangerous area, a deep cross picked out Pat Selby that saw Cooke – Chowdhary produce an excellent finger tip save to keep out the effort that Baxter then cleared to safety.

A draw meant it felt like two points were dropped by Woodley but considering the team played with ten men for half an hour it may prove to be a valuable point at the season’s end

Cooke - Chowdhary, Baxter, Thomas, Edwards, Nightingale, Jewell, Morley (Gordon), Hiscock (Nunn), Fairchild, Isaiew, T Williams (Mullen) Sub not used: Witt

Attendance: 59