Oakley brace sees United into top two

With Finchampstead and Headington not playing this weekend, United had the opportunity to go above both teams and up to second.

Woodley started well, playing some of their best football of the season in the opening five minutes. Josh Drew put in Oakley, who ran at speed at the home defence, but his cut back evaded several blue shirts in the Holyport box.

Three minutes in saw the home keeper make the first of several saves over the course of the afternoon when Oakley forced him into a smart stop at his near post. Sixty seconds later United went ahead when Oakley finished from ten yards after Matt Jones saw his shot saved. The build up to the goal involving left back Sukhi Kang and winger Carl Prestidge was first rate.

The goal woke up the hosts who in turn had a good spell. A nice run by Paul Rake ended with him missing to the left from twenty five yards. Alert Marques then had his header saved in the right corner from a deep cross out on the left before a Rake header that lacked power failed to test Alex Reed who made a routine stop.

Midway through the half a great ball by Prestidge picked out Abdul Kamara; from a tight angle on the left the midfielder couldn't find Oakley as Woodley regained their grip on the game.

United had to make an early change three minutes before the break when Jones limped off with an injury. Liam Wilson came on and made an immediate impact with a fine finish into the right corner after latching onto a nice Kamara pass.

HT Holyport 0-2 Woodley United

The second half started with a host of Woodley chances. Drew shot well wide after the hosts could only half clear a Danny Horscroft corner, before a Prestidge shot from the right was saved.

Despite the difficult conditions with a strong wind, more pressure followed. Oakley had a shot blocked by a defender whilst Wilson saw his low drive well saved in the right corner.

With twenty minutes to go, Holyport were lucky not to go down to ten men when Oakley was bundled over by the last defender. The resultant Horscroft free kick was parried away.

United made their penultimate change with fifteen minutes to go when Teddy Thomas replaced Drew. This saw Wilson swap wings and play on the right with Thomas playing on the left of Oakley.

Despite the vast majority of the half being played at the Holyport end, the hosts nearly got back into the game when a left wing corner was flicked on at the near post. Fortunately for Woodley Abdul Kamara was positioned on the line to clear.

Down the other end, the home side then cleared off their line as Oakley shot goalwards after a Thomas shot was parried into his path. Oakley then hit the bar from just inside the box as United looked to kill off the game.

With four minutes left the hosts halved Woodley's lead when Rake fired into the left corner from eighteen yards.

The score didn't stay like that for long though as two minutes later Oakley restored the two goal cushion tapping in after a Thomas shot was saved.

Before Holyport could kick off United made their final change when new signing Brad Hoy came on for Kamara.

FT Holyport 1-3 Woodley United