Woodley United FC exited the Cherry Red Record Premier Challenge Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Redhill.
For the third time in five games United faced opponents from a higher division and through hard work and desire gave their most complete performance of the season not withstanding exiting the league’s Premier League cup in a sudden death penalty shoot-out.
Winners of this competition in 2020 and having lost only one league game this season, Redhill survived a first minute Woodley corner to enjoy the of the opening ten minutes that saw the hosts twice shooting over Andrew Walker’s cross bar.
Despite the better possession Redhill were susceptible to counter attacks with the pace of Connor Suckling and Sid Gbla on the wings and Ciaran Carolan at centre forward causing problems and it was Suckling who opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute when his run and low shot beat Redhill’s Michael McEntegart at his near right hand post.
Woodley escaped what they thought was a Redhill offside four minutes later which saw another shot over Walker’s cross bar and then had a goal disallowed in the twenty fourth minute when Marco DeSousa’s free kick into the home penalty area was turned into the net only for the assistant referee to flag for an offside.
Walker did well to block a shot on 33 minutes to keep Redhill scoreless at the break while Connor Nunes saw his shot drift wide of the upright a minute before half time.
Redhill started the second half with greater tempo which saw the visitors survive a ball going across the goal area in the opening minute.
However, Redhill levelled in the 47th minute when Yannick Monga headed unchallenged to score off Walker’s left hand upright.
United weathered the storm with centre backs Mark Williams and Dan Watkiss competitive to every ball and with the introduction of Ben Lambourne at left back just before the hour mark both he and right back DeSousa started to enjoy possession and getting forward into the home half of the pitch.
With the introduction of further fresh players in Abdul Afolabi, Rafa Brandao and Pedro Monteiro, Woodley began to look dangerous and causing the home defence problems.
Ed Thomas saw a shot gathered by McEntegart at the feet of Carolan while the same player also shot over the cross bar.
Walker was called on to block an effort but it was Woodley who looked more likely to score and came close when Redhill’s Tigani Eshilokun’s diving header from a Watkiss free kick narrowly missed his goal for a corner kick.
McEntegart did well to deny Suckling in the first minute of second half stoppage time following a quick throw, in what was the last scoring chance of the game.
In keeping with the closeness of the match the two teams could not be separated and after five penalties apiece both had scored three with Walker saving two spot kicks.
Two further kicks were needed before Redhill advance to the next round five-four winners on penalties.
Woodley United: Walker, DeSousa, Barrocas (Lambourne), Chigona (Monteiro), Williams, Watkiss, Gbla, Nunes (Brandao), Carolan (Afolabi), Suckling, Thomas (Stevens)
