Super sub Liam earns Kestrels a late draw

SUBSTITUTE Liam Wilson was the Woodley hero as his late goal earned a point at Milton.

After a first-half stalemate at Potash Lane, the hosts took a 2-0 lead through Jack White and James Large strikes before Leon Mannion reduced the arrears.

And that allowed Wilson (pictured) to pop up with four minutes to play to find the net and seal a 2-2 draw, which almost got even better with Milton forced to clear off the line in the dying moments.

Having not played since losing to Binfield on December 17, Jon Laugharne made five changes for the game on the final Saturday of 2018 with Harry Hawkins, Adam Barnard, Teddy Thomas, Mannion and Chace Jewell all coming into the side.

But with the wind on their side, mid-table Milton made the better start with Jewell forced into a last-ditch clearance to keep the game level.

Goalkeeper Tom Bryant was then called into action while at the other end Mannion and Jewell both fired wide.

The home side again started well after the restart with Bryant making an impressive stop but he could do nothing to deny Large’s opener.

That lead was doubled on 65 minutes when White turned in from a corner only for Mannion to quickly respond with Sam Guze picking out Mannion to tuck in.

Toby Briggs came close while substitute Guze was becoming increasingly influential so it came as little surprise when Woodley levelled after Guze picked out Wilson to race through and score.

The visitors had their tails up and pushed hard for a late winner with Wilson’s closerange effort hacked away before Briggs then fired wide in the fifth minute of added time as the spoils were shared.

Woodley head into 2019 sitting 11th in the table, despite a run of only one defeat in seven league matches.

The Kestrels are next in action on January 8 against Wokingham and Emmbrook in the Subsidiary Cup at Larges Lane (7.45pm).