BUOYED by last Saturday’s cup win, United started strongly and against Langley and went on to record their first league win since August but in doing so had to endure a nervous closing eleven minutes.
The fourth minute saw Toby Briggs denied by Khaira Bikramjit in the visitors’ goal who then blocked the follow up effort, Briggs then agonisingly saw Lamin Ceesay’s low cross from the left miss his outstretched foot seven minutes later.
The host’s positive start was rewarded on fifteen minutes when Max Laschok broke through the back defensive line to slot pass Bikramjit to score one on one. Bikramjit was to deny the same player a second goal on the half hour before Langley exerted pressure and won two quick corners which United comfortably dealt with.
Ben Anderson attempted a spectacular overhead kick at Langley’s goal four minutes before half time with United doubling their lead a minute later. Keeper Craig McCreeth’s pass to Pele Hagger saw the full back make ground and pass to Anderson who in turn found Laschok to score his second. On the stroke of half time Anderson headed Woodley’s third goal from a Ceesay cross.
For much of second half Woodley controlled the game and were rarely threatened by the visitors. Woodley’s best chance fell to Joe Swaine who showed excellent skills to control a Laschok pass, only to see his shot blocked.
However, this all changed in the eighty third minute when Hagger conceded a penalty following an outstanding save by McCreeth who pushed a goal bound shot onto his crossbar. Jahdd Thomas converted the penalty which breathed life into Langley and it was the same player who got a second two minutes into stoppage time when he headed home from close range.
Woodley held their nerve and were rewarded when Laschok was fouled in the penalty area two minutes later. Liridon Daka was dismissed for the challenge and Laschok converted the spot kick to complete his hat trick with what was the last kick of the game.
Woodley United: McCreeth, Barron, Hagger, Wood (Swaine), Alexander, Sissons, Briggs (Chaffin), Hawkins, Laschok, Anderson (Wright), Ceesay Sub not used: Moore
