WOODCOTE/STOKE ROW came from behind to salvage a point from their John Dell Senior Division clash at MORTIMER.

Early in the game a succession of corners caused Mortimer problems but the visitors failed to secure a breakthrough.

After 10 minutes Dean Jordan had a good chance to score but headed wide. Soon after skipper Jim Hancock had what looked like a headed goal with the ball over the line but the assistant referee failed to give it.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Mortimer missed a good chance on 25 minutes with a midfielder blazing over from six yards out.

The game swung from end to end before Woodcote fell behind on the half-hour mark when poor marking allowed a ball to the far post and their winger smashed it low past Mark Pearson.


The second half again saw Woodcote start brightly and after 55 minutes they got their reward. A long ball was played into Paul Knox’s path and from 25 yards out to the right of the 18-yard box he let fly, the ball skipped off the turf and was too quick for the keeper.

The game moved from one end to the other and again Woodcote conceded from a cross which was volleyed home from six yards. Woodcote showed character in battling back to level the scores when, following a long throw by Frank Dillon, Carl Smith got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble on 80 minutes.

ROTHERFIELD UNITED crashed to their 10th consecutive defeat of the season after going down 3-1 at HIGHMOOR/IBIS RESERVES.

Ben Keable was on target for the basement side who are now 10 points from safety.

In Division 1 WOODCOTE/STOKE ROW RESERVES were dealt a blow as, after battling for 89 minutes against READING YMCA, they conceded a 90th-minute goal in a goalmouth scramble, to lose 1-0.

The result leaves the hosts firmly rooted to the foot of the table having lost all seven of their matches this season.

Runaway Division 2 league leaders WOODLEY HAMMERS thrashed GORING UNITED RESERVES 6-1 to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

ROTHERFIELD UNITED RESERVES slipped to their third Division 3 defeat of the season after losing 3-1 to league leaders EMMBROOK at Bishopswood. Paul Langham set up Dan Szutenburg with a corner played to the outside of the box. Szutenburg then rifled a shot low to the left to put the hosts in front after 35 minutes.

However, Emmbrook hit back with three goals to secure all the points in a match that was played in torrential rain.

Published 24/12/12