Defeat for Luckless Town at Penn

Town started the match at Penn and Tylers Green without Harry Neate and Matt Brooklyn, but with Doug Groves and Craig Blissett drafted in to the starting eleven. A bright start saw Deshawn Whittaker and Lemar Maycock working well together. An 8th minute Jordan Goddard free kick zipped across the box and Maycock's header wasn't too far off target.

In the 11th minute the home side survived a decent penalty claim as Seun Odusanya appeared to be tackled in the box and the defender was a long way from the ball. Referee Gary Coster waved play on. Penn hit back with a half chance on 12, but Woodley nearly took advantage of the break with Whittaker and Odusanya surging forward before the move broke up.

On 20 minutes Woodley came closest yet to breaking the deadlock when a Matt Bennett free kick was chested down by Danny Isaiew and James Pheby shot powerfully against the crossbar. Three minutes later and against the run of play, Penn took the lead when their giant centre back Dean Munday headed home from a corner.

Woodley continued to press though and some neat passing saw Whittaker free on the right and his nicely weighted cross was met by Isaiew. The defender managed to clear the ball high in the air and James Pheby almost got to it first, the ball going out for a corner.

On 35 minutes, a Jordan pass found Danny on the left with just the keeper to beat. The angle favoured the keeper though and Adam Parsons blocked the shot in the Penn goal. Just two minutes later and the ball was finally in the back of the net. Doug Groves sent a long through ball to Isaiew who was tackled but the ball fell kindly for Odusanya who buried his shot in the corner. Much to Woodley's disbelief, the Assistant Referee on the far side had flagged for shirt pulling by the scorer and the goal was disallowed.

There was still time in this action packed half for Ben Tanner to pull off two terrific saves as Penn came in search for a second goal before half time.

Penn started the second half the brighter and Tanner was soon back in action, saving from Chris Hurst. It was end to end stuff but Penn looked the more dangerous, especially with the pacy Josh Fox marauding down the left flank. Fox nearly grabbed a second when he knocked the ball past Tanner but he couldn't squeeze the ball back from a narrow angle.

Ironically, just as Woodley were settling into the second half and showing some nice touches, a swift Penn break set up their second goal. Danny Jordan's run did the damage with Chris Hurst tapping home after Tanner's brave save landed at his feet.

A minute later, Pheby had a half chance from a right foot shot, following a long ball from Groves nodded on by Odusanya, but it was charged down. Town's attacks were now getting few and far between as the Penn midfield got a grip on the game and only Tanner's athleticism kept the match alive. However, a third goal effectively ended Town's chances, with a corner ricocheting in possibly off a Penn hand into the net.

With legs tiring, Max Brown replaced Danny Isaiew and Dominic Sharpe replaced the injured Maycock. Although this freshened things up for Woodley, injuries were soon restricting both Pheby and Goddard though with no other players on the bench, the only option was to see out the ninety. There was time, however, for Woodley's best move of the match. Ollie Bridges took possession of the ball in his own half, passed nicely into Groves's path, who beat his man and passed to Pheby who turned and delivered a great cross field pass to the onrushing Brown. Brown's well struck shot flew across goal but missed the far post.

Although Woodley had finished strongly, the match ended in a well deserved Penn victory and Woodley now have to patch up a few knocks and prepare for another trip to Wycombe to play Penn's local rivals Chalfont Wasps on Tuesday.

Squad: Tanner, Blissett, Bennett, Pheby, Bridges (c), Groves, Isaiew, (Brown) Goddard, Odusanya, Whittaker, Maycock (Sharpe)