Horscroft's brace secures win v Holyport

On a hot afternoon against a Holyport team that were content to play the game at a slow pace, it took three second half headed goals for United to secure the win and move within one point of promotion to the Premier Division.

The opening twenty minutes saw Woodley enjoy the greater possession without looking threatening as too often play broke down by Holyport blocks or the ball agonisingly evading an on rushing player when crossed into the penalty area. During this period it was not until the seventeenth minute that the visitors had their first shot at goal which was comfortably into the body of Alex Reed.

Gradually the hosts look likely to score with Charlie Oakley beating the offside on thirty two minutes only to be denied by Holyport’s keeper and their man of the match Kyle Bradley. Oakley also saw an effort land on the roof of the net and a further attempt at lobbing Bradley going over the cross bar. Holyport’s sole response was a Ben Pulsford’s header straight to Reed.

The second half was in complete contrast to the first with United scoring in the first minute after the restart. Josh Drew enjoyed good space on the right with his cross not being cleared and with it bouncing around Danny Horscroft headed home from close range.

The goal opened up the game with United showing greater tempo and Teddy Thomas was twice blocked on the goal line while Bradley made a good save to deny Oakley. Not to be denied Drew chased and kept the ball in on the goal line and his cross was again headed home by Horscroft after sixty two minutes. A minute late Chris Pope denied a third goal by blocking a United effort on the goal line but the third goal came after sixty nine minutes when Horscroft turned provider and his cross from the right was headed home by the diving substitute Greg Beckett, which was the third successive game a substitute had scored for Woodley.

Beckett was to be denied a second by another good save from Bradley, who also got the better of a one on one with Oakley in the closing minutes of the game.

With one point required, all attention turns to Monday evening when Chinnor visit Rivermoor Stadium.

Reed, Greenwood, Kang, Nichols, I Kamara (Hoy), Barley, Jones (Wilson, A Kamara, Oakley, Horscroft, Thomas (Beckett) Subs not used: King and Briggs