Substitutions prove vital as Woodcote secure derby win

WOODCOTE ran out winners in their Premier Division derby clash with visitors HENLEY TOWN last Saturday.

Henley were on top throughout the first half and took the lead after 25 minutes when Woodcote keeper Ben Lallament was dispossessed and Henley’s Bertie Gingell was able to score into an empty net.

Henley could have made more of the possession they had but the score remained just 1-0 to the visitors at half-time.

The second half saw Woodcote equalise inside two minutes and they then took the lead after five minutes. Half-time substitutions proved crucial with replacement Henry Leadbetter-Hart using his speed and physicality and after a run he supplied the ball to Sam Primmer whose shot was blocked but the loose ball fell to another sub, Zak Fanstone, who rifled home from close range.

The second goal on 50 minutes involved another substitute, James Taylor, who supplied the pass for a neat finish by Primmer.

On the hour mark, the score was 3-1 thanks to a fine strike from Primmer with Leadbetter-Hart providing the assist.

The only clear-cut chance created by Henley in the second period came after 70 minutes when a shot rebounded off the crossbar.

Five minutes later Henry Leadbetter-Hart latched on to a misplaced clearance to finish emphatically to wrap up the scoring.

Elsewhere in the division, GORING UNITED eased to a comfortable 6-1 win at FINCHAMPSTEAD. The visitors had a dream start when after
30 seconds Josh Monk played a sublime diagonal ball to split the Finchampstead defence, allowing Chris Pocock to run in and finish with style.

After five minutes the scores were level when Goring conceded a penalty but five minutes later Pocock scored his second when played in by Rob Millsop. Further goals followed from Bertie Spencer, Harry Voice and Calvin Nicholson giving Goring a 5-1 half-time lead.

Spencer added a sixth for the visitors after 60 minutes to complete the scoring.

In Reserve Division 1, HENLEY TOWN DEVELOPMENT went down to a 3-0 defeat at home to READING YMCA RAPIDS. The visitors netted twice in the first half and wrapped up the scoring two minutes from time.

In Division 2, HENLEY EXILES, playing their first match in two weeks, secured their first point of the season as they drew 2-2 at home to READING CITY YOUTH.

The Exiles started on the front foot, pressuring the opposition and took the lead when Musa Saidybah played a ball through to Henry McDonagh who hit it from distance to beat the keeper.

As the half wore on tiredness and fatigue crept into the Henley performance which allowed Reading City to get level before the break. In the second half the visitors capitalised on Henley overcommitting players and hit them on the break to go in front.

Henley continued to plug away and created multiple chances to equalise. With only a couple of minutes to go Charlie Saul launched a late free kick into the box from deep and Ben Stodolnic got a good shot off that the keeper saved, but Tyree Street was on hand to tap home the equaliser.

In Division 3, GORING UNITED RESERVES went down to a 2-0 home defeat against FINCHAMPSTEAD RESERVES with the visitors scoring a goal in each half.

In Division 4, ROTHERFIELD UNITED DEVELOPMENT ran out 6-1 winners at home to TAPLOW UNITED RESERVES.

Rowan Prince and James Momoh put the hosts 2-0 up at half-time. Momoh, Ashley Field, Benjamin Morgan and Justus Larter were all on target for Rotherfield in the second half.

l WARGRAVE crashed out of the Charles Twelftree Trophy after going down 3-2 at MAIDENHEAD TOWN.

Wargrave started well and raced into a 2-0 lead with both goals coming from Sam Wild.

Wild was then fouled for a penalty but this was missed before Maidenhead were awarded their own spot kick which Mitchell Burley converted.

Maidenhead made it 2-2 before half-time through an own goal.

Wargrave were reduced to
10 men early in the second half when Stuart Moss received his marching orders. Midway through the half Maidenhead winger Joe Park made it 3-2. Wargrave pushed for an equaliser but were denied by the in-form home goalkeeper.