Woodley very unlucky to come away from Chalvey empty handed

Woodley headed to Slough on Saturday looking for their first league win since the 12th of August. The last couple of performances have been promising, including last Monday when United went through to the next round of the Floodlit Cup after a win over Aldermaston. They will face today’s opponents in the next round; with Chalvey starting the season well it was going to be a tough game.

The match started at a frantic pace and rarely let up over an entertaining ninety minutes. The hosts had the first shot. A free kick on the left, level with the eighteen yard box, was rolled square to Tom Williams who had his effort blocked.

Four minutes in saw strong claims for a Woodley penalty turned away. A counter attack involving Toby Briggs and Ben Anderson ended with the latter cutting in and seeing the ball deflect up off a defender onto an arm.

Feeling hard done by, United pressed for the opening goal and it came moments later. A beautifully floated Danny Blatchford free kick found centre back Joe Sissons at the back post. Bringing the ball down, Sissons fired a low shot goalwards from a tight angle that hit a defender and went past Matteo Giacobbe.

The visitors were in control of the game and looking dangerous in the final third. A Briggs effort was blocked into the path of Anderson who picked out Harry Swabey on the left of the box. Taking a touch, Swabey’s shot deflected wide.

After Blatchford saw a strike from the right whistle past the left post, the advantage was doubled on fourteen minutes. A Woodley strike from the edge of the box hit a Chalvey body falling invitingly to Freddie Barron who unselfishly rolled across to Sam Guze who tapped in from close range.

The home side were getting frustrated, it was obvious the next goal would be key. A rare chance saw Lawrie Toombs head a delivery from the right over.

Midway through the half, Giacobbe pulled off the first of several key stops. A superb left wing delivery from Swabey was deftly headed goalwards by Anderson who was denied by an unbelievable reflex save.

The nearest Chalvey got to pulling one back came in a passage of play started by a Ben Wall free kick. Putting the ball into a dangerous area, Sissons did well to hook clear. Keeping the play going, Barron did well to clear off the line.

Both sides were now looking like scoring every time they had a set piece. A Blatchford free kick saw Guze ghost in unmarked; unfortunately he wasn’t able to get anything on the ball. Any contact would surely have beaten Giacobbe!

United were left to rue the missed chances as their lead was halved eight minutes before the break when captain Richard Jeffrey headed in a right wing cross seconds after a combination of Barron and post had kept the score at 2-0.

The goal didn’t halt Woodley’s attacking intent. A Blatchford free kick was easily saved before Swabey clipped the top of the bar capping off a fantastic move that deserved a goal. Dropping a shoulder, Barron easily beat his man, passed to Anderson who found Sawbey who came agonisingly close to scoring in back to back games.

Three minutes before the break United were punished when their failure to clear their lines presented Oscar Betts with a pot shot at goal. The young forward couldn’t have struck the ball any sweeter leaving Adam Thomson in the Woodley goal no chance as it flew in to the top right corner.

HT Chalvey Sports 2-2 Woodley United

United made a change before the second half got underway when Teddy Thomas replaced Briggs who had picked up a knock.

Two minutes after the restart, Chalvey took the lead for the first time and once again it came down to defensive frailty. Seizing the opportunity, Jason Marney beat Thomson with a shot into the right corner from twenty yards.

You have to give enormous credit to Giacobbe who starred for the hosts. The keeper did really well to keep out a Guze strike heading for the top corner after an assist from Thomas. The next stop was arguably better and once again it was Guze he denied. Getting on the end of a Barron corner, Guze’s header was palmed out by Giacobbe diving to his left. The ball was kept in play and eventually crossed back to Guze who missed the target.

The match then had its first quiet spell; unsurprising considering the speed the opening hour was played at, the heat and the large pitch.

After Anderson forced a routine save, Woodley made another change when Blatchford made way for Nathan Lock.

Immediately in the thick of the action, Lock couldn’t wrap his foot around a difficult chance that went well wide.

The next attack saw an incredible series of chances for the visitors. Guze was denied from the left by another superb save, the ball broke to Harry Hawkins whose effort crashed off the bar, the third opening fell to Lock who was denied his first for the club by a goal line clearance. When you’re down at the bottom you really do have no luck.

Chalvey were able to see out the final ten minutes reasonably comfortably; the closest United got to an equaliser was when Swabey had a shot blocked.

FT Chalvey Sports 3-2 Woodley United