United fuelled by Amie's fitness!

After the previous week’s defeat Woodley got back to winning ways against bottom of the table Newbury, who made the hosts work hard for the points notwithstanding United took the lead in the eight minute when May Hamblin slotted pass Newbury keeper Katherine Brown following an excellent pass from Holly Wilkins.

With Hamblin lively on the left flank and Molly Lambourne enjoying success on the right Woodley had good possession but rarely troubled Brown. When Hamblin was tripped twenty minutes into the half the opportunity existed for United to double their lead from the penalty spot but Brown was equal to Rosie Page-Smith’s kick saving to her right.

Wilkins shot inches wide and Page-Smith fired over from distance but there was no further first half score.

The introduction of Amie Benton and Laura Harris-Steers early in the second half brought greater mobility to United’s attacking options with Benton involved in much of it. Maddie Sawyer found Benton who in turn passed to Hamblin for the winger to see her shot blocked for a corner in the sixty seventh minute before Benton doubled the lead five minutes later. Harris-Steers played in Hamblin who unselfishly passed to Benton, with just Brown to beat, to pass the ball into the empty net.

Three minutes later Benton fired into the roof of the net from a tight angle to further increase the hosts lead.

Newbury reduced the deficit with a penalty kick of their own with fourteen minutes remaining through Leanne Saunders but Woodley rallied and finished the stronger. Benton hit the side netting before setting up Hamblin to score her second as the game entered stoppage time.

Haines, Hunt (Lowes), Wilkins (Cooke), Thompson, Surtees, Evans, Lambourne (Benton), Sawyer (Ward), Page-Smith (Harris-Steers), Stringer, Hamblin