Defeat for Town

Woodley faced Henley Town in another local derby at the Triangle, missing several key players but still feeling they were capable of pulling off a result.

In front of their biggest crowd of the season of 41 spectators, the home side started brightly and in the opening minute Ben Rose in the Woodley goal nearly misjudged an innocuous effort from Jermaine Hamilton that just missed his far post.

Woodley took the lead with an excellent attack that saw Jamie Fairchild feed Adam Jeffrey to his left, Jeffrey passed forward to Carl Davies who crossed for Tom Williams at the far post whose goal bound header was helped into the net by Henley’s defender Chris Bark on his own goal line in the second minute.

Town had other efforts from range go wide, but it was Henley who had the majority of possession and looked the most threatening particularly through the impressive Hamilton. They failed to make clear opportunities though with John Breeney excelling at the heart of the defence although Ricardo Riccio did slip his man in the Woodley penalty area, but from a very tight angle he hit the outside of the front post while Richard Thomas blocked a shot from close range and Jim Nightingale was forced to clear another for a corner.

At the other end Town Davies shot was comfortably smothered by Henley keeper Stuart Gosby while Jeffrey forced George Friel into conceding a corner kick.

Woodley were forced to reshuffle their defence when James Varndell was involved in a nasty clash that left him dazed. Brent Guiblin was introduced for his first team debut and the reshuffle gave Henley an opportunity from a corner kick shortly before the half time break. The ball into the Woodley defence was partially cleared but Diak John took one touch on the edge of the area and blasted past Rose through a crowd of players to level the scores. Town had one more moment to survive when Danny Lingwood had a volleyed chance at the back post, but he blazed over.

Woodley reorganised themselves but they were desperately unlucky to concede a penalty very early in the second half. Guiblin seemed to make minimal contact when standing Ricco up as he chested the ball, but the referee deemed it to be worthy of a penalty. Mark Bartley found the back of the net from the spot and Woodley were going to have to come back from behind.

Woodley started to get back on the ball and Jeffrey had a curling effort go inches wide. Carl Davies hit a good shot from a half chance straight at the keeper. Henley did continue to threaten but Brent and Breeney were particularly strong in defence.

Woodley did have chances to score. Jeffrey found Davies on the break and he shot narrowly wide of the far post and Williams had a decent chance when the ball dropped to him from a Rob Morley cross, but he could only blaze his shot high. Henley had an excellent chance to finish the game when Hamilton had a one-on-one with Rose, but the Woodley stopper saved excellently with his finger tips.

There was one more chance for Davies in the final stages eight yards out but he steered his shot across goal and Woodley lost the game 2-1 and now look forward to another tough game on bank holiday Monday at Milton United.

Rose, Varndell (Guiblin), Thomas, Edwards, Breeney, Nightingale, Fairchild (Gordon), Morley, Williams (Waring), Davies, Jeffrey Subs not used: Illsley, Campbell