Dissappointment in the Buildbase FA Vase

Woodley went out of the FA Vase at the first time of asking on a wet and windy afternoon in Oxford.

The match started in an open fashion with Nomads’ Jack Tutton running at the heart of United’s defence and having a shot comfortably smothered by Alex Reed after two minutes, to be followed United’s James Tennant showing good control before turning and shooting wide a minute later.

The opening goal came after five minutes when Tennant broke free of the Oxford defence to round keeper Ben Taylor on the edge of his penalty area to shoot into an empty net.

Tennant was unlucky to not have been awarded a penalty after eleven when felled in the penalty area while Nathanael Robinson saw Taylor parry a shot for a corner with a quarter of an hour played.

After a sluggish start Nomads started to win control of the midfield looking dangerous on the attack. A corner was won which Jordi Mulvaney scored from close range to level on twenty three minutes and seven minutes later the hosts took the lead when Sami Khawaja used his pace to out run the defence to score past Reed. With ten minutes remaining Reed denied the same player saving well to his near post.

Tennent was put through on goal by Robinson but over ran the ball to Taylor before Jack Tutton shot wide for Oxford as the break approached.

United started the second half quickly with Tennant getting on the end of a Robinson free kick only to see the ball cleared. Despite Oxford seeing Matt Knapton having a goal disallowed for off side on the hour Woodley were enjoying better possession but struggling to trouble Taylor notwithstanding a change in formation.

With ten minutes remaining Nomads secured the win when substitute Henry Landers scored the home team’s third goal.

Woodley return to Oxford next Saturday when the two teams play for match points.

Reed, Greenwood (Prestidge), Turner, Nichols, I Kamara, Barley, Drew (Hinds), Ledger, Tennant, Horscroft, Robinson (White)