London Samurai Rovers 2-3 Woodley United: Kestrels climb up
WOODLEY UNITED climbed three places off the bottom of the table after they scored three in their win at London Samurai Rovers.
The hosts kicked off but were soon on the back foot with Woodley winger Archie Swell enjoying freedom on the right hand side and the visitors forcing a couple of corners, one of which was cleared of the hosts goal line.
The early pressure was awarded in the sixth minute when Pedro Monteiro’s pass found Swell who passed the full back and put a low cross into the penalty area where Ayo Roberts was allowed time to control the ball before putting it past Hubert Sczech.
Going forward United looked dangerous but out of possession their defence was called upon and successfully protected debutant keeper Andrew Walker.
Roberts forced a corner from a Tahir Carmichael freekick while Seun Akintola showed good skill before his short went across Rovers six yard area for safety while a multi-player move saw Akintola shot over the bar, shortly followed by Roberts heading Swell’s cross into the arms of Sczech and Swell putting wide following a multi-player move that started with Walker.
Woodley’s second goal came in the thirty first minute direct from Carmichael’s free kick on Woodley’s left and the third quickly followed two minutes later when Stuart Birkett got on the end of a Carmichael corner and saw his header find its way into the net.
Rovers opened their account in the thirty eighth minute when an unmarked Junya Kitanishi scored from close range and reacted quickest after Birkett headed clearance from a free kick clear hit the back of a Samurai player.
Buoyed by the late first half goal the hosts started the second half the better, enjoying plenty of possession in Woodley’s half without threatening the goal.
The 52nd minute saw Akintola’s header from a corner go narrowly wide of Sczech’s right hand post but until the final 10 minutes neither team looked like scoring as the match became a midfield affair that needed little goalkeeper action.
Two minutes later United won a freekick in the Rovers’ half from which possession was lost and on the counter attack Walker saved well for a corner kick from which Sadaharu Yoshida rose unchallenged to score a header.
This set the game up for a nervous finish but Woodley did not panic and were able to see the game to full time and a sixth away win of the season.