United exit Floodlit Cup to Binfield

With the Rivermoor pitch deemed unplayable the decision was made to move Woodley’s home game with Binfield in the Floodlit Cup to Binfield’s Stubbs Lane.

Making five changes from the team that faced Holyport at the weekend United started well with them having plenty of the ball in the opening moments.

Despite their bright start it was Binfield who had the first chance. A deep cross from the right was kept in play at the back post forcing Harry Swabey to clear from practically the goal line. This was followed up with the ’away’ side going ahead on nine minutes when Carlo Santoro evaded a challenge on the edge of the box before slotting past Tom Bryant.

Bryant was then called into action, diving to his right to keep out an Ian Davies header as Binfield pressed for a second.

Woodley then settled, playing some decent football. An offside Max Laschok just missed to the right before a well struck shot by the same player forced Chris Grace into his first save of the evening.

A brilliant block denied Davies whilst Jemel Johnson narrowly missed from the right of the box as both teams were looking dangerous.

United’s Pablo Ferenandez was involved in most attacks. Skipping past a tackle before playing a perfectly weighted through ball to Toby Briggs on the right, the move ended with a defender clearing a low cross before a Laschok effort from just outside the box was saved.

The closest Binfield came to a second saw Sawbey once again clear off the line this time from a Davies header whilst a great cross from Woodley’s Freddie Barron was a fraction too high for Laschok.

An entertaining half ended with Fernandez setting up Laschok who was denied by an excellent Grace stop before Fernandez had a free kick well held in the left corner.

HT Woodley United 0-1 Binfield

The second period started with Danny Horscroft, who was part of United’s 2016/17 promotion winning team, having two chances for the away side. The first from the left of the box missed the target whilst a free kick went narrowly over.

Woodley then came close to an equaliser when Fernandez, who had spent the entire game being fouled, won a free kick. Taking it himself his delivery was headed on by Ryan Alexander resulting in another good save from Grace before Binfield centre back Gary Smith did really well to clear a Harrison Moore cross off the goal line.

Binfield got their second on sixty four minutes in fortuitous circumstances when substitute Jamie Mitchell netted from ten yards after the ball fell nicely to him when Johnson’s shot from the right of the box was kept out by a combination of Bryant and defender.

Three minutes later it was 3-0 when Davies beat Bryant at his near post. The scoreline was harsh on United who were matching their opponents from the league above for large spells.

With fifteen minutes to go Woodley made a double change. Liam Wilson and debutant Charlie Sawyer replaced Briggs and Moore.

Wilson’s introduction nearly paid off immediately; receiving a Fernandez pass his shot was kept out by Grace.

United did pull one back with eleven to go. A free kick into Laschok ended with him beating Grace with a low shot into the left corner.

The decisions were not going Woodley’s way. Wilson who was a good five yards onside was denied a one on one by the linesmans flag whist Laschok had a penalty claim turned down after being clattered in the box after a Sawyer pass.

A final change was made by United on eighty six minutes. Alex Aldrich made way for Andrew Gilbert. This saw Barron move into central midfield and Gilbert take over at right back.

No further chances were created meaning Binfield advance to the next round.

FT Woodley United 1-3 Binfield