United "heading on" upwards to seventh heaven!

In the match between second placed Headington Amateurs, the division’s leading scorers, and third placed Woodley United boasting a 100 per cent record and the best defence, it was the visitors who maintained their winning run thanks to a first half goal from midfielder and man of the match Danny Horscroft in a game of few scoring opportunities and punctured by free kicks.

Playing with wingbacks, Amateurs started strongly and created the first opportunity after only six minutes when poor defending saw Luke Cuff one on one with United keeper Alex Reed only to drag his shot wide of the keeper’s far post.

Both teams traded free kicks with Jake Nicholls blocking a Headington kick while Horscroft saw one headed clear before good work and an excellent pass by right back Luke Turner found Horscroft unmarked on the edge of Headington’s penalty area. The United player took a good fist touch before driving his shot low to Harry Jenkins’ left to open the scoring after eighteen minutes of play.

Adam Nditi had an opportunity to double the lead two minutes later but drove his free kick over Jenkins’ cross bar.

With both midfields and defence remaining strong both goalkeepers were rarely troubled for the remainder of the half. Headington’s right wing back Liam Morbey had a good run but shot wide while United’s Charlie Oakley shot wide on a counter attack while also being given off side just before half time from a Horscroft pass with only Jenkins to beat.

The opening minute of the second half stated with action at both ends with Horscroft’s free kick being cleared and Amateurs’ quickly broke before United could clear the ball for a throw in deep in their own half. This was followed by home team pressure that saw Sean Horcombe fire a free kick over the visitor’s cross bar and another free kick defended by the visitors. Having resisted the pressure United slowly go it to the game with Nditi lively on the right and twice forcing corners while Horscroft found the side netting.

The seventieth minute saw Headington’s first shot on target which was comfortably saved by Reed while Horscroft saw a cross headed clear and a second cross elude the on running Oakley in the seventy fifth minute.

Woodley’s last chance off the game fell to Nicholls who shot over the cross bar with eight minutes remaining after which Amateurs applied heavy pressure that required Reed to save well at his far post before tipping a header over the cross bar from within the penalty area with two minutes remaining.

United held firm to record their fifth clean sheet and take the win and move level with Headington on points.

Reed, Turner, Kang, Nicholls, I Kamara, Barley, Nditi (Wilson), Morgan, Oakley, Horscroft, Beckett Subs not used: Baines, Gutierrez, Briggs and Meredith