Playing their first game in four weeks, United finished 2022 on a high with a well deserved three points against visiting Penn & Tylers Green and in doing so brought to an end a run of four consecutive defeats.
The lack of game time did not show with the hosts lively from Penn’s kick off, much of the game in the visitors’ half and the home defence having little to do.
Penn’s man of the match keeper San Butcher was called into action from the kick off while Tahir Carmichael headed a corner kick wide of Butcher’s upright in the seventh minute.
The opening goal came five minutes later when Connor Richardson broke free of the defence, saw his shot rebound of the foot of the post only for the Woodley winger to react first to score his first goal for the team.
Ciaran Carolan was denied by Butcher in the twenty second minute following a low cross from the left by Rafa Brandao and in an almost identical move seven minutes later Carolan saw his goal bound shot cleared for a corner kick.
Butcher was again called upon in the 36th minute to keep his side only one goal behind and his performance inspired Penn to finish the half on the attack with Woodley’s Jono O’Sullivan denying Jed Layman five minutes from half time and Matt Dawson shooting wide in the closing moments of the half as Penn caught United on a counter attack after good play by the home team.
Woodley was slow to start the second half with O’Sullivan saving for the first of a number of corner kicks Penn won in quick succession.
However, United settled with Connor Suckling putting an opportunity wide from 20 yards with only Butcher to beat.
O’Sullivan saved from Bradley Jones before Butcher at full stretch denied Suckling in what was the forward’s last action of the match as he made way for Manny Adu-Essah in the 57th minute.
A minute later the pace of Adu-Essah sees him beat Charlie Flint and pass to Carolan to calmly score pass a wrong footed Butcher.
The game subsequently became an open one with both teams looking for the match third goal. United’s best chance falling to Adu-Essah who was denied by Butcher diving and smothering the ball at the substitute’s feet while O’Sullivan saved from Gavin James and three minutes from full time Penn sub Fred Tripp headed over the home cross bar from a free kick.
However, with no further goals United happily took the three points.
Woodley United: O’Sullivan, DeSousa, Massaquoi (Bull), Lambourne, Carmichael, Watkiss, Brandao (Chigona), Rushforth (Downes), Carolan, Suckling (Adu Essah), Richardson (Thomas)
