Woodley adapt to get the better of Windsor
Woodley 3, Windsor 1
Woodley’s greater physicality and ability to adapt to heavy underfoot conditions were decisive factors in their 3-1 win over an out-of-sorts Windsor side on Saturday.
On a Rivermoor Stadium pitch that spent much of January and February underwater following recent flooding, it’s a credit to the ground staff that this game went ahead at all.
But Windsor might have wished it hadn’t, and you sensed they could have played until midnight and still not have created the chances needed to get something from the game.
Having lost to a lastgasp goal against FC Deportivo Galicia the previous week and been buried by Molesey in a narrow mid-week
League Cup defeat, the Royalists were looking to bounce back at Woodley.
But on an difficult pitch and against uncompromising opponents, Garry Haylock’s side failed to lay much of a glove on their hosts.
Woodley might have scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes after creating two clear chances, however – despite having much the better of the first half – it took them until the 27th minute to open their account when centre half Noah Coates rose highest at the far post to head them in front from a corner.
Coates could have added to his tally in the 30th minute, but on this occasion his header from another corner flew wide of the post.
Haylock’s side wouldn’t survive further punishment before the break however, and they conceded again when John Crenibo latched onto a long ball over the top and slotted past Leighton Rudd in the 42nd minute.
Woodley added to their tally just five minutes after the restart when Crenibo took advantage of another defensive mix up to place the ball wide of a diving Rudd.
It took Windsor until the 54th minute for Nathan Green to have their first shot of the game, and perhaps in frustration at his lack of opportunities, smashed the ball high and wide when sent clean through on goal.
Sam Healey and Reilly Hudson came on for Windsor for the final 20 minutes with Healey in particular adding zest and creativity in midfield. Unfortunately, Windsor’s Will Smith was dismissed on 88 minutes for a second yellow card offence, but it sparked a spirited end to the game from the visitors who found the net when Reilly Hudson’s hard low shot found the back of the net a minute or so later.
Woodley’s Kevin DeBarros was also sent off in injury time following an altercation with Liam Jenkins, but in general the match was played in good spirits with the two late dismissals not reflecting the mood of the game.
The result leaves Windsor 17th in the table ahead of their next league game at bottom of the table Hillingdon Borough on March 19.