United made it three wins from four games in eight days and in doing so jumped two league places to move off the bottom of the table for the first time since mid-December 2024.

Both teams went into the match needing points as in addition to Woodley’s relegation fight, fifth placed Hillingdon needed a win to keep their play-off hopes alive.

On a bumpy pitch, the first half was played at a high tempo with Woodley’s Jude Van Spall and Ty Moorcroft’s pace causing the home defence problems. However, the first goal effort of the game fell to Hillingdon in the fifth minute which required late call up Nathan Smith in goal to block a shot.

The thirteenth minute saw Sam Garofalo cut in from the right and enter the penalty area only to shoot wide and the same play repeated the move in the twenty sixth minute only for his pass to elude the oncoming Mackenzie Creech.

With Woodley’s defence, including co-man of the match alert quick to every challenge the Woodley goal was well protected allowing the team to play high up the pitch forcing the hosts to make errors. It was from and error by goalkeeper Lincoln Marques who under pressure from Van Spall miss a clearance allowing the Woodley player to intercept and pass the ball to Moorcroft to open the scoring in the twenty ninth minute.

The lead was doubled seven minutes later when Moorcroft’s long throw in was half cleared by the defence before the ball fell to Van Spall to score from close range and the goal awarded despite claims of an offside which the assistance referee was well position to turn down.

United went into half time with the two goal lead intake thanks to Smith’s save at the near post as the half entered stoppage time.

The hosts started the second half in determined fashion forcing United to defend but United weathered the opening ten minutes successfully and when Garofalo forced Marques to save in the fifty fifth minute Woodley slowly regained the initiative as Marques was forced to save for a corner and Moorcroft put the ball over the crossbar from a Dylan Clark pass as Marques advanced towards the edge of the penalty area.

Twenty minutes into the half Hillingdon’s Nicollas Freitas was allowed to run at the visiting defence before shooting past Smith. United showed resilience and restored the two goal advantage eight minutes later. A Hillingdon throw in was cleared by Eden Downes to Justin Davis who in turn passed to Moorcroft who outran the defence and beat Margues at his right hand post.

With four minutes remaining Moorcroft completed his hat trick and help secure the win when he converted Clark’s pass to the far post.

Six minutes of added time brought no further goals allowing United to record back to back away wins.

Smith, Adam, E Downes. Creech (Leahy), Maylen, Wint (Fantone), Garofalo (Podgorski), Davis, Moorcroft, J Van Spall (Darboe), D Clark (Alozie)