Young Didcot Reserves Run Riot

With Graham Streak unwell, Stuart Hamblin took charge again with a number of new signings making themselves available for this midweek league match against fellow Hellenic Division 1 East strugglers, Didcot Town Reserves.

The line ups for the match looked nothing like those for the reverse fixture when Woodley Town came out on top by the odd goal in three. This time Didcot played with six under 18s in their starting line up and two more on the bench.

A decent start from Woodley saw Ryan Kingsbeer looking powerful in midfield and Chace Jewell lively out on the left. In the 18th minute a superb through ball found Lemar in space on the edge of the box. As he shot, he seemed to be fouled by the last defender and, once it had become clear that the keeper had kept out the shot, the referee called it back for the free kick. Jordan Goddard fired the free kick over the bar as Lemar hobbled off the park to be replaced by Lee Wheeler.

The substitution did not disrupt Woodley's flow as another superb move involving Kingsbeer, Goddard and Jewell ended when no one could get on the end of Lee Wheeler's cross.

Against the run of play Didcot found themselves in front when the keeper launched a kick downfield and the speedy forward, John Eudall, beat the centre backs for pace and scored past Ash Smith. Two minutes later Woodley gained parity when a fantastic Shane Maskell free kick whistled past Didcot's keeper into the back of the net.

Unfortunately some sloppy defending meant that Woodley went behind with just eight minutes of the half remaining. The curse of the set piece returned as Didcot won the header and Sam Borland reacted quickest to follow up and tap home.

A disastrous start to the second half saw the home side score twice in sixty seconds. First Eudell slipped through two defensive challenges to score from a wide angle with Ash Smith just deflecting the ball on its way into the net. Then Taylor Janes swivelled and shot from well outside the area taking Smith by surprise as it sailed over his head.

From here there was no way back and Woodley's poblems were compounded when Craig Taphouse raised his arms to a red shirted player who had been obstructing him. With the referee aware of the assessor's eyes on him, he showed the red card and Woodley were down to ten.

Eudell soon got his hat-trick when sub Barry Elmore inadvertently passed back to him. Although Didcot continued to look dangerous, Woodley's shift to three at the back and positive outlook earned them several goal scoring opportunities as the crowd enjoyed some excellent attacking and counter-attacking play.

Didcot scored the next two goals, including a fourth from the talented Eudell, but Woodley hit back with a well made second goal of their own; Elmore and Kingsbeer exchanged neat passes and the resulting cross was despatched by Gareth Davies.

Unfortunately, Didcot got the game's final goal when Eudell was fouled in the box and Aaron Grey stepped up to bury the penalty.

This was a disappointing result against another relegation threatened side although to be fair Didcot looked very useful all round the park and might now upset a lot of teams in this Division.

This weekend sees a welcome Cup match against Chinnor with the next league match scheduled for 14th December at home to Headington Amateurs.

Smith, G.Davies, Watkiss, Alleyne (c), Taphouse, Baker (J.Davies), Goddard (Elmore), Kingsbeer, Maskell, Maycock (Wheeler), Jewell
Subs not used: Blissett, Brown