Defeat on opening day

Woodley kicked off a historic season in the Hellenic Division One East, away to hot favourites for the championship Wokingham & Emmbrook in front of the League’s biggest crowd of the day totalling 104.

In a match that was played at tremendous pace and saw plenty of chances at both ends, Town started well and did not let their experienced opponents settle into their normal game plan and applied pressure all over the pitch.

Town’s endeavours were rewarded and they got the dream start they were looking for from a well worked set piece taken by Adam Jeffrey that saw Carl Davies head towards Craig Hiscock to head from close range on eighteen minutes.

Wokingham & Emmbrook were clearly shaken by the application of the Woodley side and Tom Williams was growing in confidence, taking on his marker on several occasions and shooting from the edge of the area just wide.

Wokingham & Emmbrook’s first chance came through a mix up in Woodley’s defence and Warren Baxter threw himself to deflect a goal bound effort just wide before the home side had a header flash wide as Woodley got a reminder of the threat the home side possessed.

As the half progressed Wokingham started to apply pressure.

The back line and debutant goal keeper Ben Rose were marshalling things well and Rose was called upto to make a fine one handed save during the first half while Richard Bland pulled a shot into the side netting when a pass to James Wise may have been more productive for the Satsumas.

As the break approached, Bland persistence saw him attack Town’s penalty area to win a corner which resulted in Shaun Wanklyn equalising from a free header.

Wokingham & Emmbrook came at Woodley strongly in the opening exchanges of the second half and took the lead for the first time with an excellent finish from almost the touch line by Luke Lee.

Woodley were holding on trying to find a foothold in the game for a period as Wokingham & Emmbrook sensed they had the momentum. Rose made some important saves at vital moments and Woodley gradually got themselves together and began to put more pressure on Wokingham & Emmbrook.

It was panic in the home side’s defence that gifted the equaliser to Woodley. Tom Williams applied the pressure and the ball fell at his feet three yards out for a simple tap in on fifty five minutes.

The game was stretching and Wokingham upped their tempo again and following a partially cleared corner, Richard Bland beat three players to score from an acute angle to put Wokingham & Emmbrook back in front.

Woodley refused to lie down and laid siege to the home side’s goal for the majority of the remaining minutes.

Nick Edwards shot wide after the goalkeeper spilt a Jamie Fairchild cross and Steve Campbell, making his debut as a substitute, had a good opening but his touch deserted him from an Edwards’ header and the chance was gone.

Wokingham & Emmbrook played on the break and the excellent Jon Christopher, made a timely intervention when Wise looked favourite to score after a fine run from the half way line.

Overall a promising display from Woodley on the opening day of their season against a good side and will now look to take this kind of performance to Chinnor on Tuesday evening.