Draw for Town

Woodley were looking to bounce straight back to winning ways but were missing seven members of their squad for the match away at Finchampstead, who had had a good start to the season themselves. It was a perfect day for football playing on a wet and flat playing surface and Woodley used this to their advantage in the early stages. Adam Jeffrey was prominent on the flank and the returning Paul Wilder linked the play well as the away side took the game to the home side.

Carl Davies had the first clear chance of the game after great Jeffrey trickery and delivery, but his shot from point-blank range was somehow kept out by keeper Perry Howard. Finchampstead then had their turn to attack and took the lead with a neat finish from the edge of the area by Pat Selby on eleven minutes that left Oneal Garnes with no chance in the Woodley goal as it clipped the far post and went in.

Finchampstead looked more likely to extend their lead and Garnes produced an excellent save at full stretch to tip a shot around the post.

Woodley got back in possession though and levelled the scores in the thirty first minute/. Jeffrey got past his man once again and fired the ball across the six yard box and Howard could only partially deflect the ball and Luke Williams was on hand to add the finishing touch.

Jeffrey was causing mayhem in the Finchampstead ranks and continued to skip past his marker, but it was Wilder who gave the away side the lead two minutes later after he had his initial shot smothered, he held off the attention of his man and poked the ball in from close range.

It looked increasingly that Woodley were to get another and some how Williams failed to connect as another Jeffrey assist flashed across the goal and Finch survived to the break.

Finchampstead started brightly in the second half and probed to find an equaliser, but the returning Dan Jewell and Andrew Nunn filling in at left back were defiant in keeping the home forwards at bay. Woodley played on the counter and man of the match Wilder continued to cause problems for the home defence. Finchampstead found the equaliser after a miss-qued clearance by Garnes fell at the feet of Ben Knight who shot precisely into the far corner of the net with eighteen minutes remaining.

It stirred Woodley into life and Davies should have won the game when one-on-one with Howard, after honestly staying on his feet when clipped en route, but the chance was blocked by Howard. Jamie Fairchild was only inches away from finding the final touch to a searching cross at the far post and Jim Nightingale was close to finding the winner from one of the many set pieces Woodley had.

Woodley were disappointed not to have won with the chances they had, but took their run to one defeat in six league outings and with the players missing should not be too disheartened.

Garnes, Jewell, Nunn, Edwards, Nightingale, Baxter, Jeffrey, Fairchild, Wilder (Fagan), Davis, L Williams Sub Not Used: Varndell