CLIMBING KESTRELS ARE FLYING HIGH

JON LAUGHARNE hailed the attitude of his Woodley United players as they continue to climb the Hellenic Division One East table.

The Kestrels’ season got off to a shocking start, losing their first 10 matches in all competitions under Laugharne’s reign.

But Woodley’s fortunes have dramatically improved since with Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 win over rivals Wokingham and Emmbrook making it just one defeat in their last seven with the three points moving them up to 10th in the standings.

And Laugharne says he is not surprised by the upturn in form.

“When you lose the first five league games it’s always difficult,” the Woodley boss told The Wokingham Paper.

“You don’t know where the next win is coming from to be honest.

“The league looks really competitive and strong. But we kept going, full turnout at training, full commitment from everybody and it was only a matter of time before it did change.

“We played a cup game against Cirencester and won that 4-1 and we realised that we could win.

“Then we went over to Thatcham and we won there and that was good, then we followed that up with Chalvey and then we started to build a bit of confidence and that’s what happens. We’ve kind of grown from there.”

He added: “It’s just hard work, that’s all we had to do.

“We’re starting to get some rewards for that.

“The players take credit for it. They’re the ones that turned it around (through their) work ethic.

“The start was difficult, we knew that. We knew what we were walking into, we knew what was going to happen, we were prepared for it.

“We’re three months behind any other club and where we should be.

“We had a lot of players leave. They got relegated last year and we knew what we were getting into.

“So it was a case of just suck it up and see where we go and then we were building and getting players in. Football’s all about players at the end of the day.

“There’s been a big turnover but finally we’ve got our squad and we’re getting there.

“We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there and that’s the most important thing.”

Woodley were certainly made to work for their win over the Sumas on Saturday.

The hosts stormed out the blocks to take the lead inside the opening minute at the Rivermoor through a fine Chace Jewell volley, only for Ellis Day to reply in kind with a stunning strike of his own.

Laugharne’s charges got their noses back in front on the stroke of half-time through in-form Sam Guze, but were again pegged back midway through the second half when Josh Harris found the net.

Dan Bateman’s Sumas piled on some late pressure but Jake White and Harris missed glorious chances, allowing Woodley to snatch victory at the death when substitute Teddy Thomas lashed in.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Laugharne.

“It was fantastic. Whilst you’re still in the game you always think you’ve got a chance of winning it. “(Wokingham) missed a couple of chances, which perhaps they should’ve scored. But then we’ve had one off the line at the start of the second half and should we have had a penalty? I don’t know, there were a lot of appeals for it.

“It evens itself out but I think we deserved to win.” Woodley could not follow up the win during Monday night’s Subsidiary Cup clash against Holyport.

Laugharne was forced into wholesale changes due to the unavailability of his squad and the Kestrels exited the competition after a 4-2 defeat at the Rivermoor, despite goals from Toby Briggs and Leon Mannion. They return to cup action this Saturday, hosting Division One West side Pewsey Vale in the Bluefin Sports Supplementary Cup (3pm).

For more reaction as well as a report and photos from Saturday’s clash between Woodley and the Sumas, see The Sports Paper inside.