Some positives despite heavy defeat

Coach, Stuart Hamblin, took charge of team selection and tactics for this tricky home league match to Chinnor, Woodley Town having gone down 4-0 in the reverse fixture. It was also a first opportunity for the players to meet with new Manager, Graham Streak. Following his appointment, three new signings had been made, including keeper Arron Ward, who replaced the absent Ash Smith in the line up.

With captain Mike Alleyne unavailable and new striker, Jc Trigueiro, still awaiting International clearance, it meant another start for Jake Brooks in midfield alongside recalled Tyrone May, with a new front pairing of Omar Cofie and Simon Griffiths. Dan Watkiss started at right back with Gareth Davies at left back.

From the first whistle, Chinnor used the considerable wind advantage to press hard and deep into Town territory. The possession was broken by a nice interchange of passes on the left between Griffiths and Maycock with the cross intercepted by Chinnor's keeper before Cofie could apply a finish. Back at the Town end, a sloppy piece of marking at a throw in gave Chinnor a one man advantage which Dan Stone exploited with a powerful close range finish.

Within the next minute, Town almost equalised on two separate occasions. First a Jordan Goddard shot from 25 yards struck the bar, then Goddard's pass split the defence and Maycock, with only the keeper to beat, rolled the ball goalwards only for a back-tracking defender to clear off the line.

In a frantic spell, Chinnor pushed forward again and, with the ball crossing the six yard line, Dan Watkiss felled the striker before he could fire home. The penalty was taken and converted by Alex Feaver.

Straight from the kick off, Woodley's over-elaborate passing lost them the ball and a quick exchange of passes set up Alex Feaver to slot home just 30 seconds after the re-start.

Some resolute defending kept Chinnor out for a twenty minute phase but, when the defence pushed up, a high ball landed at the feet of the apparently onside Jamie Essex who pulled back unselfishly for Feaver to round off his hat-trick.

Despite being 4-0 down, the home side started the second period well and dominated possession for the first twenty minutes. Omar Cofie's speed took him past the keeper but his shot from an angle hit the side netting. Then Maycock was put through one on one with the keeper only to see an offside flag raised. It was clear to all but the linesman that Cofie had been stood offside whilst Maycock had been behind the shoulder of the last defender.

Another half chance was spurned by Maycock as Woodley looked to get back into the game. Unfortunately any hope of a comeback was dashed as Essex controlled a long ball perfectly and turned and fired home to make it 5-0. In the 82nd and 85th minutes two further Chinnor goals - both finished by Essex - embarrassed Woodley as concentration was lost by defenders and keeper alike.

Second half substitutions saw Chace Jewell replace Simon Griffiths at the start of the half and Matt Bennett replace Dan Watkiss towards the end.

The next match is a another home game to Maidenhead United Reserves and Graham Streak will have a week to put his plans together to plug the leaky defence and re-build the team's confidence.

Squad: Ward, Watkiss (Bennett), G. Davies, Brooks, Blissett (c), Pheby, Goddard, May, Cofie, Griffiths (Jewell), Maycock Unused subs: Elmore, Roberts