A goal in each half sees Didcot run out winners

United slipped to their sixth defeat in seven games on Monday evening against a decent Didcot Town Development side.

The visitors started well with a couple of long range shots going over Tom Bryant’s crossbar. The first shot of the match on target came courtesy of Woodley centre back Harry Swabey who showed good technique to strike the ball cleanly from twenty yards forcing keeper Sam Eeles into a good stop.

Despite Town having the majority of the play, Bryant was rarely troubled. A Jack Hollister effort from distance missed the target whilst another shot missed to the right.

Midway through the half, a good run by Daryl Harris saw him cut in from the left before having a shot blocked into the path of Ross MacDonald who was denied by Bryant.

Ten minutes before the break the hosts had a good chance when Leon Mannion prodded over from the left of the box. Sixty seconds later United fell behind when a fine run, started just inside the Woodley half by Seth Humphries, ended with him burying the rebound after Bryant saved his initial shot.

The half ended with Woodley defender Pele Hagger clearing off the line whilst at the other end Chace Jewell lofted over both Eeles and bar.

HT Woodley United 0-1 Didcot Town Development

Minutes after the restart, Eeles pulled off a remarkable save diving to his left and getting a strong hand on a vicious Mannion free kick destined for the bottom right corner.

Didcot doubled their lead on forty nine minutes when a Hollister strike from the right of the box. beat Bryant at his near post.

With the wind picking up, the game became a bit ugly with several players clashing and neither team able to fashion out any clear goal scoring opportunities.

Sixty five minutes gone Bryant did well to beat out a well hit shot that went through a sea of bodies.

Three minutes later United made a change when Ryan Alexander replaced Ben Clark in centre midfield.

Bryant then made amends for the second goal with a superb save to tip over at full stretch a Harry Moreton effort.

Woodley’s best spell of the match came in the final ten minutes. A brilliant interception by Didcot captain Adam Learoyd prevented Mannion going one on one with Eeles.

With five minutes to go, United made a double substitution. Max Laschok and Joe Sissons made way for Andrew Gilbert and Luke Axton-Hall who was returning from injury. This saw Teddy Thomas join Mannion up front whilst Gilbert took over from Thomas at wing back.

The changes nearly worked immediately when a decent Harry Hawkins pass found Thomas. Running into the box, he stayed on his feet despite being clipped by a defender only to see his delivery from the left land on the roof of the net.

Woodley’s final chance saw an Alexander shot blocked with strong claims of hand ball before Didcot substitute Nick Skiller just missed to the left after a counter attack.

FT Woodley United 0-2 Didcot Town Development Match report coming soon