JAMES ANDERSON is hoping Haydon Richardson could be the answer to Woodley’s goalscoring problems.
The Kestrels are the lowest scorers in the Hellenic Premier Division and have been seeking a leading marksman ever since last season’s talisman Charlie Oakley left the club to join Sandhurst Town in August.
Midfielder Danny Horscroft remains the club’s top scorer this season with seven goals in his 31 games, with five men nestled in behind on just two goals each, including Ian Davies, who moved to Binfield after just two games for Woodley.
One of the other men on two is Richardson, who found the net against both Highmoor-Ibis and Abingdon United in the space of three days last week as the Kestrels picked up two more precious points with 2-2 and 1-1 draws.
And Anderson feels he may have finally found the striker to keep his side afloat in the battle to avoid relegation.
“I certainly think he could be,” the Woodley boss told The Wokingham Paper.
“I think Haydon has been great. When he was injured at the beginning of the season he was coming to most games and he’s been involved with the lads and been a breath of fresh air in the changing room.
“He’s a really nice guy off the pitch and really good on it.
“It’s been great having him in and I just hope we can keep hold of him, give him good service and I’m sure he’ll get into double figures by the season of the season, I’ve got no doubt.”
INTERVIEW: Anderson insists Woodley are up for the fight
Woodley suffered a 2-0 defeat on Saturday in their league trip to Brimscombe and Thrupp thanks to first half goals from Samuel Blackie and John Evans.
That leaves the Kestrels third from bottom with 10 games to play.
They were scheduled to face Windsor in the Perpetua Press Floodlit Cup on Monday evening, but the match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Rivermoor.
Anderson’s men travel to face Binfield on Friday evening (7.45pm).
