Kestrels first game since February ends in entertaining draw
Woodley United 4 Windsor 4
GREG BECKETT fired in a hat-trick as Woodley’s first game for exactly one month ended in a thrilling draw against Windsor.
Due to a string of postponements, the last time James Anderson’s men had played a game was also against Windsor at the end of February, suffering a 5-0 defeat in the Floodlit Cup.
But they were far more competitive this time around and looked to have clinched three vital points thanks to
Beckett’s treble and a Haydon Richardson strike, only for Windsor’s James Denton to score twice late on to earn a 4-4 draw.
The Kestrels came into the game with no league victory in 15 matches since a 1-0 win at Fairford Town way back in October.
And they fell behind again on 10 minutes when Alex Reed parried a low shot into the path of Matt Woods to tap in from close range.
But the scores were quickly levelled when Beckett, who has missed a large chunk of the season through injury, latched onto a Richardson cross to head into the top corner.
Back came Windsor again to go into half-time ahead when Nadir Shafi capitalised on a defensive error to skip around Reed and roll into the empty net.
However, within three minutes of the restart, Woodley were in front.
The scores were levelled at 2-2 just 20 seconds into the second period as Richardson charged down a clearance from goalkeeper Henry Poole before sliding into the net.
And within the blink of the eye, Anderson’s men got their noses ahead when Beckett fired home from the penalty spot after a foul on Owen Davies.
Heading into the final 20 minutes, Woodley opened up a two-goal cushion with Beckett again on target, latching onto Danny Horscroft’s free-kick and firing home.
The visitors set up a nervy finish, pulling one back on 76 minutes when Denton found the net and despite a brilliant late save from Reed, Windsor snatched a share of the spoils deep into stoppage time with Denton again on target from inside the box.
That point combined with results elsewhere sees Woodley drop to 19th in the table.
The fixture backlog means the Kestrels are due in aciton four times in nine days, starting with a Berks and Bucks Senior Cup semi-final against Chesham United last night before home games with Brackley Town Saints (Saturday) and Longlevens (Monday) over the Easter weekend.
WOODLEY: Reed, Guze (Barley 84), Prestidge, Bridges (Turner 70), I. Kamara, Cooper, Davies, A. Kamara, Richardson (Wilson 75), Horscroft, Beckett. Sub not used: Morgan.
Attendance: 49