Sloppy first half defending marks another defeat

Woodley Town took the trip to Milton Heights looking for their first league win of the season against high-flying Milton United. Mike Alleyne was still missing and Gareth Davies, Iain Graham and Jordan Goddard were also unavailable, the latter having dislocated a shoulder while at Rayners Lane in midweek. Keyron Hylton returned following his injury at Burnham and Luke Titcombe was also back after missing the midweek game.

The visitors looked dangerous for the first few minutes, James Pheby heading wide from a corner and Adam King volleying wide a minute or so later. Then disaster struck in the ninth minute as Simon Rushe inadvertently passed the ball to the opposition's James Newport in his own box. Newport dribbled past Keyron Hylton but got brought down leaving the ref no choice but to award a penalty. Ashley Smith guessed correctly moving to his right but the ball cannoned off him into the corner of the net.

Lemar Maycock looked to get Woodley back in the game and his run and cross set up Omar Cofie for a header that was comfortably saved.

In the 13th minute, Milton United doubled their advantage from a superb move. Josh Beech passed nicely to Daniel Cox-Rodgers on the right wing whose low and early cross was met by Newport to flash the ball home. It nearly got even worse for Woodley as Robert Joyce was put through adjudged onside and lobbed the keeper, though the ball found the outside of the post and rebounded to safety.

After a slightly tetchy period of play, the visitors started to push forward and Danny Isiaew volleyed over followed quickly by a Pheby effort that deflected wide. Lemar seemed to be one on one with the keeper when the ref called it back due to the linesman seeing an earlier foul by Cofie. A superb Adam King free kick was met by Simon Rushe but he failed to steer it goal ward and another chance went begging.

With just a couple of minutes to go of the first half and Woodley on the ascendency, a mistake gifted Milton with a third. First, Patrick Howe was allowed to run past defenders then his low cross was diverted by Matt Bennett straight into the path of Cox-Rodgers who slotted home a third unanswered goal.

At the start of the second half Matt Bennett made way for Dan Watkiss and Adam King was moved to left back. Things went from bad to worse for Woodley as a cross aimed towards Ishmael Thomas found the ball in the back of the net, the full back seemingly bundled over by Robert Joyce, Joyce claiming the goal even though it appeared to come off his marker. Thomas required treatment for his injury but the referee adjudged the challenge fair and the score line now read 4-0.

Perhaps the referee later felt Woodley had had the worst of the decisions as a few minutes later he awarded a penalty for a slightly innocuous tap on James Pheby's ankle, Dan Watkiss gratefully accepting the opportunity to pull a goal back.

With Woodley now looking to pile on the pressure, a crazy retaliation by Pheby after a kick from Ross Tyler led to his red card, the linesman catching the incident having missed the original kick. There seemed to be no way back for ten man Woodley. However, subs Doug Groves and Lee Wheeler were brought on at right and left back respectively for Thomas and King as Woodley looked to keep the pressure on. The changes had immediate impact as Woodley used the flanks more effectively.

A cross from Watkiss set up Cofie for a header that went wide then pressure in the box led to a handball offence spotted by the referee. Initially he placed the ball on the edge of the box but, after consulting with the linesman, the ref agreed that it was in fact another penalty. Dan Watkiss stepped up for a second time, coolly slotting home past the keeper's diving right hand.

Milton relieved the pressure slightly with a raid and Watkiss saw yellow after a foul. But there was still time for a further comeback as Doug Groves picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park and played a superb defence splitting pass through to the onrushing Keyron Hylton who should have scored. As Craig Griffiths rushed off his line, Hylton postponed his shot and was eventually dispossessed.

It was now clear how significant those first half errors had been. Frustratingly, another defensive error gifted sub Matthew Chomyn a goal in the last minute, Smith calling for a dipping cross to be left by Titcombe but spilling it into Chomyn's path, making the final score 5-2.

This was Woodley Town's most disappointing performance so far this season and Manager, Louie Tallett, will be looking to get his best players fit and available for regular football as well as looking for reinforcements where possible.

Woodley Town: Smith, Thomas (Wheeler), Bennett (Watkiss), Titcomb, Hylton, Rushe, Maycock, Pheby, Cofie, Isiaew, King (Groves) Sub not used: Wilkinson