Seven minute spell sees game put out of United's reach

United welcomed Highworth Town to a very wet Rivermoor Stadium on Tuesday evening. When the sides last met, Town were 6-0 victors. The game was a lot closer this time and, apart from a short spell after half time, there wasn't much between the two sides.

The opening stages were even with both teams trying to adjust to the heavy pitch. It took till the tenth minute for the game's first shot; the visitors Connor Waldon volleyed wide from the edge of the box.

Woodley's first chance fell to Carl Prestidge who was playing further up the field than in the last few games. He latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball and placed a low shot that beat Josh Langley in the away goal. However the ball dramatically slowed on the wet pitch and was cleared off the goal line by a sliding defender. The resultant corner found Prestidge who couldn't hit the target.

Town's first shot on target came courtesy of a Jordan Roberts header. Getting up well, he got on the end of a deep right wing corner forcing Alex Reed to save at his near post.

This was followed up with Waldon picking out his namesake Lewis who had his shot blocked for a corner. The following set piece was only cleared as far as Ashley Edenborough who clipped the top of Reed's crossbar.

The half ended with a United shot from the left being blocked; the follow-up resulted in a big goalmouth scramble that eventually ended with Langley pouncing on the loose ball.

HT Woodley United 0-0 Highworth Town

Minutes after the restart, Woodley had a great chance to go in front when Langley was caught in no man's land rushing out of his box and getting nowhere near the ball on the left wing. Prestidge squared to Haydon Richardson who took several strides into the box before firing off a low shot that was once again kept out by a defender at full stretch.

United were immediately punished when Edenborough was left completely unmarked to volley in a right wing cross. Sixty seconds later, Reed pulled off a very good stop diving to his right to keep out a shot from twenty yards. The corner that followed was turned home at close range by Wayne Turk.

Shortly after, Reed was again called into action to superbly tip over an Edenborough effort from just outside the box.

On fifty seven minutes Woodley fell further behind when Edenborough converted a penalty into the left corner.

Two minutes later United made a change when Sam Guze replaced Joe Barley at right back.

The scoreline was harsh on Woodley who fought on. Richardson made good contact with a left wing cross that Langley beat out.

A further change was made on sixty five minutes when Toby Briggs made way for Teddy Thomas.

The substitution paid off with Thomas' runs down the right causing the away side problems.

United pulled one back with nineteen minutes to go when Toby Bridges got his first goal for the club beating substitute goalie Gary Aulberry with a low shot.

Woodley made a final change on seventy seven minutes when Dave Morgan came on for Bridges who had needed treatment after his goal.

The home side's final chances fell to Mitch Cooper and Greg Beckett; however both were blocked by red shirts.

At the other end Edenborough missed out on his hat-trick when his free kick went into the wall.

FT Woodley United 1-3 Highworth Town