Woodley and Holyport will have to replay fixture after game abandoned at half time

United made the trip to Holyport on a sodden Saturday to play their final league match before Christmas. Taking the lead through Max Laschok, Woodley were pegged back before another Laschok strike five minutes before the break saw the teams all square. With large puddles appearing and the rain getting heavier the decision was made to call off the match.

The game’s first shot fell to Pablo Fernandez who tested Jake Quelch in the home goal whilst Tom Bryant pulled off a fantastic save, getting down to turn behind a Jonny Feaver effort after a low cross from the left. The resultant corner landed at the feet of a Holyport player who forced Bryant to save with his feet.

United made an early change on six minutes when Luke Axton-Hall limped off and was replaced by Teddy Thomas. This saw Jono Malone drop into the back three and Thomas play alongside Harry Hawkins in centre midfield.

Despite the horrendous weather, both teams were creating chances. Chace Jewell set up Leon Mannion who missed the target from the left before Laschok capitalised on some poor defending, rounded Quelch and rolled the ball into an empty net on nine minutes. Moments later Quelch denied Mannion from a tight angle on the left in a frantic opening ten minutes.

The hosts were level on twelve minutes when Fabian Driffill set up Feaver who fired into the left corner.

Some trickery from Driffill on the left wing ended with a shot from the left being kept out whilst Feaver was unlucky not to score when his shot from another left wing cross hit the bar.

The move of the match came from the visitors. Fernandez played in Jewell on the left, unfortunately his cross was slightly behind Laschok who couldn’t get a clean connection allowing a comfortable save.

Holyport went ahead on twenty seven minutes when Driffill found the left corner following a right wing cross.

With the weather worsening, players’ safety was becoming a concern. Fernandez missed to the right from a free kick after a foul on Laschock whilst a crunching tackle on Fernandez led to another Woodley set piece. Further out than the foul on Laschok, Mannion stepped up but was thwarted by a good Quelch save diving to his right. Being the quickest to react, Laschok netted from six yards.

HT Holyport 2-2 Woodley United