CAROLAN STRIKES FAST TO HELP WOODLEY WIN
WOODLEY UNITED earned another crucial win after Ciaron Carolan’s wonder goal hit the ball of the net just 14 seconds after kick-off.
United recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season and moved a further place up the league table and in doing so opened up an eight-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
This league victory was Woodley’s tenth of the season and all have been by a single goal.
From Woodley’s kick off, Kai Stubbs-Alleyne’s headed Tahir Carmichael’s forward ball into the path of Ciaron Carolan who with one touch calmly lobbed the advancing Dragos Stefanoaica for his ninth goal of the season.
Stefanoaica denied Bevan Van Wyk from extending the score two minutes later, parrying the midfielder’s shot from Monay MillsChandlers’ pass.
This was followed by United’s Ashley East using his legs to block an Enfield shot while Dominic Simpson-Last saw his corner kick float in the wind before being cleared at Woodley’s far post in the ninth minute.
After this explosive start the half subsided into one of a few half chances and fouls being conceded.
From a Carmichael free kick in the 25th minute Stubbs-Alleyne header over the cross bar.
This was shortly followed by Simpson-Last seeing his cross from Enfield’s right hand side going through the hosts’ penalty area and out of play for a throw in.
The second half saw the visitors twice denied. Carl Adiku shot took a deflection of Stuart Birkett, hit the post before being cleared for a corner by the recovering defender and Birkett was again called on to clear in the 67th minute when Adam Pollock’ header came back into play having hit the post.
During this period of time Woodley had done little to trouble the away goal but Stefanoaica was required in the 70th minute to save Kaylum Barlow’s shot.
As the half progressed the game became stretched and defences saved by off-side decisions.
The 86th minute saw Barlow flagged off-side from a Deshawn Denny pass, while Enfield’s Kevin Mussunda was similarly penalised a minute into second-half stoppage time.
The last action of the game came in the third stoppage time minute when following a foul on Woodley’s Joe Salter on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, MillsChandler put the resultant free kick over the cross bar.