A goal in each half sees off play-off chasing Bedfont

United gave an accomplished performance against fourth place visitors Bedfont, to take a half time lead, withstand early second half pressure by the visitors that saw them equalise only to take the lead and manage the game to the full time whistle.

Woodley made light work of playing into a low sun starting positively with Connor Richardson lively in the unfamiliar centre forward role for him. Richardson shot over the cross bar in the seventh minute and following good work by Kasper Lok, Richardson played a one-two with Connor Suckling putting the ball in the back of the net three minutes later only to have been adjudged off side.

Buoyed by the positive start United were positive going forward with Rafa Brandao instrumental in midfield and seeing a shot go wide while Hok had a drive from twenty yards beat Sam Bersey in Bedfont’s goal only to rebound off the cross bar and back into play midway through the half.

The opening goal came in the twenty fourth minute. Brandao’s free kick into the visitors’ penalty area was headed back across goal by Hok and with Bedfont struggling to clear the ball, captain Dan Watkiss controlled and shot pass Bersey from just inside the penalty area.

Beasley was forced to punch clear another Brandao freekick shortly afterwards while the same player saw a corner kick go across goal and rebound into play of the far post.

Woodley’s keeper Alex Londors was called into action and made a save ten minutes before half time which United reached holding the single goal lead.

Bedfont started the second half with increased tempo and with both wingers playing further forward forced United onto the back foot and having to defend. This strategy paid off after three minutes when first half substitute Del Davies received the ball and was allowed to control it and turn while unmarked in the hosts’ penalty area and shoot pass Londors to level the scores.

Woodley was called up on to defend resolutely and with stood the visitors’ pressure and coupled with making substitutions and changing player positions gradually got back into the game.

The decisive goal came sixteen minutes before the end of normal time. Centre back Josh Nwokobia intercepted the ball and passed to Ben Lambourne whose forward ball from the half way line split the Bedfont defence for Suckling to run onto, withstand a challenge, round Bersley and score into an empty net at the river end of the ground.

This goal deflated Bedfont who struggled to recapture the intensity of the start of the half allowing Woodley to successfully see out the game without drama to take the match points.

Londors, Adu Essah, Jeczalik, Hok, Watkiss (Creech), Nwokobia, Suckling (Upton), Lambourne, Richardson (DeBarros), Brandao, Davies (Edwards) Sub not used: Walker