Big win for Town

With both teams not having played for a number of weeks, it was no surprise that the first half was a scrappy affair with players making mistakes and struggling to retain possession. South Kilburn enjoyed the better of the opening chances starting the stronger and agonisingly saw a chance roll along the Town goal line and to safety as early as the second minute. The best Woodley could muster in the opening twenty minutes was a half chance by Jamie Fairchild who was tackled in the penalty area before he could shoot. South Kilburn continued to press forward maintaining pressure from a series of corners and free kicks while Dan Jewell’s timely intervention prevented Andrea Anderson from shooting after his good work in Town’s penalty area. This appeared to be Town’s wakeup call as they started to compete and were inspired by Fairchild finding Luke Williams with the winger running from his own half passing two defenders only to drag his shot wide of the Kilburn goal post on twenty seven minutes. Fairchild also shot wide will Richard Thomas saw his header from an Adam Jeffrey corner cleared and Danny Isaiew headed tamely into Dominic Cassell’s arms from a Williams’ free kick. However, it was South Kilburn who finished the half with the best opportunity when Jim Nightingale was forced to clear Damian Berdien’s shot from Eric Hamilton’s corner. In contrast to the first half, Town produced a flowing game after the break that saw good movement and improved passing, led by man of the match Nick Edwards and were rewarded with the opening goal nine minutes into the second half. Williams got to the touch line to pull the ball back for Isaiew to get between Cassell and a defender to shot home from inside the six yard box. Although South Kilburn responded with David Ferguson seeing his shot blocked in a crowed Town penalty area, Woodley started to dominate. Fairchild was put in one on one with Cassell by Jeffrey but a poor touch allowed the keeper to clear the ball while the visitors started to concede free kicks and receive cautions. From a Williams kick on seventy five minutes, Fairchild twice saw his shot blocked by Cassell before Nightingale reacted quickest to double Town’s lead from close range. Five minutes later good work from Jeffrey allowed Williams to score at the far post and seal the victory. There was still time for Jewell to shot wide from a Eliot Whitehouse pass before Jeffrey capped a fine performance in the fourth minute of stoppage time when he showed good composure to slot pass Cassell following good approach play by Edwards and Sam Cripps. A second successive league clean sheet helped cap Town’s performance as they enter the New Year with confidence.

Cooke - Chowdhary, Jewell, Thomas, Edwards, Nightingale, Baxter (Nunn), Jeffrey, Holloway, Fairchild (Whitehouse), Isaiew (Cripps), Williams, Subs Not Used: Varndell and Holt

Attendance: 40