Ladies move within one point of the league leaders

United’s ladies moved to within one point of leaders Barton Rovers with a game in hand and three league games remaining for the season.

However, in doing so they had to overcome a stubborn Oxford City Nomads team whose performance belied their bottom of the table position and required Woodley to defend resolutely, particularly in the closing stages of the game when the visitors won a series of corners in quick succession.

On a pitch left heavy by the previous day’s rain, the opening ten minutes saw end to end action with Nomads’ Isi Meade hitting the Woodley goal post after two minutes, following a strong run from the half way line, Mollie Haines shooting straight at City’s keeper Evie Brown two minutes later followed by Nicole Haines denying Kelly McLeod when the forward was one on one with hosts’ goal keeper.

With May Hamblin’s pace causing problems which resulted in the winger being fouled on numerous occasions Woodley started to control the game and thought they had won a penalty after twenty five minutes when Rosie Page-Smith looked to be tripped as the ball was cleared for a corner kick.

The opening goal came on twenty nine minutes when Page-Smith struck the ball from twenty five yards past Brown. The lead was doubled four minutes later when Brown parried a Page-Smith free kick and Mollie Haines was quickest to react to score from within the goal area.

Charley Evans saw an effort hit the post when she connected with an Ellen Surtees’ free kick seven minutes before the break but with no further goals the half ended with United leading 2-0 having to play up the slope and into the wind for the second forty five minutes.

Nomads signalled their intent from the restart with Meade putting over the bar in the opening minute while a low cross evade everyone and went to the safety of a United goal kick. Brown cleared form outside her area as Page-Smith chased a long ball and shortly afterwards was flagged offside with just Brown to beat as Woodley sought to get a foot hold in the game.

Despite their possession Nomads were met with stout resistance from the Woodley defence with centre backs Surtees and Alice Cook in good form ably supported by Evans and Holly Wilkins.

Tattty Master saw an effort go wide as did substitute Katie Lowther when approaching Brown from the right wing and then the same player was denied by Brown at a Woodley corner with thirteen minutes remaining.

This signalled a rallying finish by Nomads but such was United’s defending Nicole Haines goal was not called upon to make any saves.

United take a break from league action for a few weeks as they turn their attention to the league’s Jubilee cup that is initially being run on a two group basis before entering the knock out stage at the quarter final ties.

N Haines, Evans, Wilkins, Master, Surtees, Cook, M Haines, Ward (Lowther), Page-Smith, Sawyer, Hamblin (Pearson) Sub not used: Edwards