Quick start by Highworth leaves United with uphill struggle!

Against the league leaders and title favourites, United got off to the worse possible start conceding two goals in the opening six minutes and being three down after eighteen minutes.

Playing down the slope Highworth looked to get the ball forward quickly to their wide men to good effect who in turn delivered good balls into the United penalty area which saw Kieron Gleed head home the opening goal on two minutes and Jason Milhench adding the second.

Woodley’s only joy in this opening spell was Jaydyn Englefield beating Highworth’s full back but his low cross getting caught under the feet of Danny Horscroft and subsequently cleared.

The third goal came via a quick Highworth counter attack following a Woodley free kick deep in the home team’s own half when Gleed added his second.

Woodley refused to buckle after this start and to their credit played some good football but only once troubled home ‘keeper Josh Langley who comfortably dealt with Adam Nditi’s shot. However, it took a double save by Alex Reed from Milhence and subsequent Joe Barley clearance to prevent any further score prior to half time.

Haydon Richardson was introduced at half time and worked tirelessly up front looking to bring players into play that included finding Englefield whose cross Woodley evaded United players.

It was another Highworth cross on fifty nine minutes that saw Dan Drewett get between Barley and Pele Hagger to increase the home team’s lead. Richardson had a shot blocked before another home counter attack resulted in the ball being deflected off a Woodley defender for the fifth after sixty eight minutes.

Reed was called on to make another double save before good work between Richardson and Englefield set the tireless Horscroft up only to see his effort blocked with seventeen minutes remaining.

The scoring was completed on eighty three minutes when Gleed completed his hat trick following United losing possession in the Highworth half following a pass being intercepted.

Reed, Edwards, Hagger, Ledger, Barley, Cooper, Englefield, A Kamara (Wilson), Briggs (Richardson), Horscroft, Nditi