Four points needed for promotion

By Chris Burnett

Woodley beat Finchampstead for the third time this season on Tuesday evening and in the process made it six wins in a row. If United pick up three points on Saturday in their home game against Holyport and Headington fail to win Woodley will be promoted.

The opening stages were cagey, United were having more of the ball but it was the visitors who had the games first chance. A long range effort was easily dealt with by Alex Reed in the home goal.

Fifteen minutes in saw the hosts string together several half chances. Captain Jake Nicholls missed to the right whilst Danny Horscroft tested Finchampstead keeper Neil Griffith.

Mid way through the half saw a fantastic effort from Horscroft; allowing the ball to bounce his shot from twenty five yards just went over. More pressure from Woodley followed. A Horscroft free kick on the right was headed goalwards forcing Griffith to save before the visitors hacked clear.

At the other end a good left wing cross by Chace Jewell picked out Chris Dean in the box; swivelling on the ball the Finchamstead player put a difficult chance wide.

Three minutes before the break saw United presented with a golden chance to take the lead when Greg Beckett was bought down in the box. Beckett stepped up to take the penalty but saw his shot tipped onto the post by Griffith.

HT Woodley United 0-0 Finchampstead

The first chance of the half saw a Horscroft cross pick out Abdul Kamara; however the Woodley midfielder couldn't get much on his header and it went wide.

On the hour United made a change when Josh Drew replaced Matt Jones.

Five minutes after his introduction Drew got the games only goal when Woodley were awarded another penalty after the away side were harshly penalised for handball. Drew beat Griffith with a low shot into the left corner.

United made another change mid way through the half when Liam Wilson came on for Teddy Thomas.

Finchampstead were really struggling to create anything. Their first chance of the half saw a header from a David Stevens corner blocked.

With the game in its final stages Wilson prodded wide a right wing cross whilst Griffith pulled off a very good save back peddling to tip over a Horscroft effort after it nicked off a defender. The resultant corner was half cleared to Drew who narrowly missed to the right from twenty yards.

The final chance fell to Finchampstead. A long throw on the left wing found a red shirt in the Woodley box; the shot was well struck but kept out by Reed ensuring he kept his fifth clean sheet in a row.

Woodley United 1-0 Finchampstead