Disappointment at Wallingford Town

After a promising opening half hour in which United were the dominant side and most likely to score, Wallingford’s tactical switch saw them take the lead on thirty minutes, grow in confidence and deservedly take the match points.

From the kick off United were on the front foot forcing a series of corners with Max Laschok and Chace Jewell causing the home defence problems with their pace ably supported by Pablo Fernandez in midfield.

Wallingford’s best chances fell to Charlie Silkstone who saw one effort caught by Neil Griffith in the Unite goal and then the same player getting on the end of a cross to put the ball over the cross bar after twenty one minutes.

It was Silkstone who opened the scoring when he beat both Luke Axton-Hall and Ryan Alexander to coolly slot pass the advancing Griffith.

Fernandez and Laschok combined to see the latter’s strike cleared for a corner while the same pairing resulted in Laschok putting over three minutes before half time. In between these attacks Silkstone got on the end of a long ball to steer it wide of the advancing Griffith.

Woodley started the second half in positive fashion but it was the hosts who went closest to scoring when they were denied by a Pele Hagger challenge and Griffith saving from Luke Williams. However, it was Williams who doubles Town’s lead on fifty six minutes when he headed home from a corner kick.

A change to Woodley’s formation saw them create pressure that while seeing Jewell put the ball onto the top of goal net and Ed Thomas putting a Fernandez cross wide from close range did not produce any goals.

Hagger was called upon to clear off his own goal line following a shot rebounding off the inside of Woodley’s right goal post with fifteen minutes remaining as the hosts enjoyed the closing period of the game that saw Silkstone score his second from close range in the first minute of stoppage time.

Griffith, Malone (Wilson), Hagger, Alexander, Axton-Hall, Barnard, E Thomas (Swabey), Fernandez, Hawkins (Wood), Laschok, Jewell Sub not used: Sissons