Anderson praises battling Kestrels after cup knock-out
JAMES ANDERSON heaped praise on goalkeeper Alex Reed as Woodley bowed out of the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup for the second time this season.
The Kestrels were beaten 2-0 at Thatcham in the previous round, only to be put through to the semi-finals due to the Kingfishers fielding an ineligible player.
But it was always likely to be a tough ask for Anderson’s charges against a side who compete two tiers higher in the non-league pyramid.
A goal in each half proved decisive but Anderson was pleased with his team’s display, most notably his goalkeeper.
“It was a good performance from the team,” the Woodley manager told
The Wokingham Paper.
“It was clear they were a very good side and we knew they were going to have quite a bit of the ball but we played really well.
“Both goals they scored were very good goals and our keeper (Alex Reed) in particular was outstanding.
“He looked very, very comfortable at that level and it wouldn’t surprise me if anyone watching would think actually yeah, we want to make an approach for him because he was excellent.
“He made some really good saves and was really commanding in his box. It was fantastic really.”
With the cup run over, attention switches firmly to five games in 10 days which will decide Woodley’s Hellenic Premier Division fate.
The Kestrels sit second-from- bottom of the table, needing at least two wins to have any hope of avoiding an immediate return to Division One East.
The last of those games will be played on April 28 with the run starting at Longlevens on Thursday before hosting Ascot United on Saturday and then Bracknell Town on Tuesday.
But Anderson insists his side have enough to avoid relegation.
“Anyone who’s come to watch us will see we’re a really good side,” he said.
“We are about 90% there and it’s just a shame we are where we are because I think we’ve been far better than those teams around us, it just hasn’t quite gone with us in key moments or we haven’t quite showed up at the right times.
“I think if these players remember how good they are, go out and play their game then hopefully it will be six points this week and something similar next week.”