Woodley’s relegation fight will go to the wire
WOODLEY UNITED’S relegation battle is set to go down to the wire.
The Kestrels have played three games in the last six days and could still finish anywhere between 17th and 20th.
Technically, all of those positions should result in relegation, but there is every chance that 18th could be enough to survive with the Hellenic League set for a summer restructure.
Woodley gave themselves a chance by ending their six-month league win drought with a convincing 4-1 success at Longlevens on Thursday evening. James Anderson’s men came flying out of the traps, leading 3-0 by half-time thanks to a Haydon Richardson brace and Sam Guze strike.
Longlevens pulled one back, but a Danny Horscroft penalty sealed victory. But back-to-back derby defeats since have left Woodley still sweating on their Hellenic Premier future. Ascot United travelled to Rivermoor on Saturday on a fine run of five wins from six, and they added three more points to their tally with a 1-0 victory thanks to an early Jonny Denton penalty. Toby Bridges came close to an equaliser in the second half, but his header came back off the post. And Anderson’s charges suffered another loss on Tuesday, going down 2-0 to Bracknell Town, a win which confirmed the Robins’ promotion. After a goalless first half, Bracknell found the breakthrough on 52 minutes through TJ Bohane before clinching victory in stoppage time, courtesy of Joe Grant in front of a crowd of well over 100. Woodley sit in 19th, four points behind Fairford with two games to play. They host Royal Wootton Bassett Town on Thursday evening (7.45pm) before welcoming Longlevens to Rivermoor on Saturday (3pm).