KESTRELS BEGIN SEASON WITH HEAVY ABINGDON DEFEAT
WOODLEY UNITED were dealt a heavy defeat in their league opener as they conceded five at Abingdon Town.
For the second time in three years Woodley started their season with a trip to Abingdon.
United gave competitive debuts to four players and with just 90 seconds on the clock two of them combined to give the away side an early lead.
After a trip on the left of the host’s 18 yard box, Tyrese Corbin-Chandler's low free kick found Kalum Patrick at the back post who tapped home.
Unfortunately, that was to be as good as it got forWoodleywho were outplayed for the remainder of the half, with Town needing only six minutes to get back on level terms.
A long throw in from the right wasn’t cleared, allowing Ciaran Keaney to volley into the roof of the net.
With 20 minutes gone and having withstood plenty of pressure from the hosts, United had a half chance to retake the lead when another Corbin-Chandler set piece from the left saw the ball fall invitingly for Lamin Ceesaywho was denied by a good block.
Abingdon then went ahead in the game’s next attack and it came down to indecision in theWoodley defence.
A corner from the right saw a Town player head against the bar; with United slow to react, Jacob Ochola-Bolger bundled the ball in.
AfterWoodley keeper Perry Howard had kept out a low Heath Pitson shot, some nice play by United left back Pele Hagger saw him beat his man on the touchline and put in a deep cross to Ceesay but the winger had his shot saved.
Despite being only 41 minutes into the new campaign, there was a contender for goal of the season when Naeem Dogar crashed a half volley from a good 35 yards in off the left post following a header clearance from Ryan Alexander. The last chance of the half fell toWoodley captain Alexanderwho headed a right wing corner over.
United started the second half brightly. Ceesay put wide a difficult chance before Patrick could only get minimal contact on a free kick that was saved.
More pressure from the visitors followed.
A long Alexander throw resulted in strong claims for a penaltywhile Hagger missed from 22 yards.
Just past the hour, Woodleywere punished for not capitalising on their chances when a deep through ball split the defence allowing Kyreece Martei to race clear and finish well.
Town’s Keaney then had a couple of chances to get his second
The first saw him drag a shot from the left wide, before a deflected effort went wide after a fine run down the left fromTuribio Dos Santos ended with him picking Keaney out.
Looking to get a consolation, substitute Ben Anderson was off target from 20 yards; the same player then had a shot deflect just wide whilst Max Laschok had an effort from the left blocked.
The game ended with Howard saving well fromAlex McLennon before the scoring was completed in added time when a decent move ended with Dos Santos tapping in at the far post after a cross from the left.
WOODLEY UNITED: Howard, Whight, Hagger, Briggs (Boyd), Sissons, Alexander, Ceesay (Carmichael), Curtis, Laschok, Patrick (Anderson), Corbin-Chandler Subs not used: Guze, Barnard