League leaders work hard for points

Woodley Town welcomed league leaders AFC Hinksey to East Park Farm with memories still fresh from the 9-0 thrashing handed out in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season.

With plenty of pace up front the away side started brightly, hitting the bar from an early free kick then testing Ash Smith with another set piece. This time a Hinksey head turned the ball goalwards but Smith pulled off an outstanding one handed save as the ball was about to cross the line. A minute or so later, after the resulting corner had been half cleared, a fizzing cross shot was spilled by Smith and Ana Odhiambo applied pressure, forcing the keeper to tumble and allow the ball to spill over the line. Some referees might have given a foul on the keeper but the challenge was adjudged fair and the goal stood.

Hinksey continued to surge forward and would have doubled their advantage when Odhiambo skipped past Smith and rolled the ball towards an empty net but Craig Blissett made a fantastic goalline clearance, belying his 37 years.

Woodley continued to battle but were often late on the tackle, Matty Bennett getting a rather harsh yellow card for one innocuous challenge.

On 15 minutes, another break from Hinksey resulted in the second goal; Jelroy Constant taking the ball past the keeper and shooting from a narrow angle. Unluckily for Woodley the ball bounced off the post and ricocheted off Ish Thomas into the net as he tried to get back to defend the shot.

Two more yellows followed - for Jordan Goddard and Mike Alleyne - as the home side tried to stem the tide. As the half wore on, Woodley did manage to get slowly back into the game, with Gareth Davies looking lively on the left and twice setting up half chances.

At half time Lee Wheeler was replaced by Adam King and King was soon in the action as he intercepted a poor back pass and set up Dan Watkiss to roll the ball home from the edge of the box with the keeper committed.

This made for a lively and even second period with the Woodley midfield starting to look more effective, particularly Mike Alleyne's touch and Iain Graham's tenacity. In the defence, Jim Davies started to win a lot of aerial ball and Craig Blissett continued to put his body on the line for the cause of the team.

On 64, Ash Smith once again kept Woodley in the game making another top drawer save after a brilliant move from Hinksey.

Lemar Maycock was introduced for Matt Bennett with Davies stepping back to left back. Shortly thereafter a mazy Maycock run gave Hinksey defensive problems but he was unable to get the shot off and, when the ball rebounded to King, he also failed to shoot and the ball was cleared.

Omar Cofie was also introduced, this time Jordan Goddard making way.

Nearing the 80th minute and with Woodley still well in the game, the Hinksey winger, Kieran Davis, set off down the right wing at pace. Gareth Davies seemed to obstruct him but he continued into the box whereupon both winger and full back tumbled. The referee adjudged that an offence had been committed in the penalty area although the initial obstruction was all of ten metres further back. Despite the protests, the decision stood and Ryan Curtin slotted the penalty just past Smith's diving right hand to make it 3-1.

In a frantic last three minutes, Smith saved brilliantly against the post from point blank range, then Mike Alleyne headed home from a cross but was adjudged offside, then the referee awarded a free kick on the edge of the box from a foul that appeared to be just inside.

All in all, this was a gritty performance from Woodley that might, with a little luck, have resulted in a point or three. However, Hinksey were the stronger side on the day and deserved to take home the three points in their quest for the Division 1 East title.

Squad: Smith, Thomas, Bennett (Maycock), Alleyne (c), J. Davies, Blissett, Wheeler (King), Graham, Watkiss, Goddard (Cofie), G. Davies Unused sub: Griffiths