Gone in sixty seconds.

Capelo's Italian styling clearly impacted on the national squad but unfortunatly only in the hair salon, more time obviously spent in hair pieces Mr James & Bentley than set peices. I preferred the Luczka style the previous night of honest , solid and patient football, result 2-0. Hopefully those leaving televised Beijing for live Bredbury will find much the same today at the Lambeth Grove stadium .


Woodley kick off on the synthetic pitch and before the guy in front of me gets his fork into his meat & potato, Heald sends a ball across field for Samson to send it in field and the alive Jones (g) picks out the run of Oates with the keeper attempting to close, the defenders are shrugged off and a cool finish is added to Oates goal scoring CV. 1-0 the boro 61 seconds!


Woodley are left blaming anyone in earshot.



Some minutes later Boro use the same route with Jones finding Oats on the same route to goal but this time the tackle comes in freeing the ball for Heald to fire one over. A good start.



With Sports still reeling they force a corner that is cleared by Flynn starting his league tally in place of the unavailable Unsworth, the ball falls for Woodley captain Douglas-Pringle who strikes well with the ball always rising and clears the boro bar . Waine concedes a free kick that Collins delivers into the box easily cleared but falls for Douglas-Pringle who can't find the target, a man needs to close his threat . Woodley try to press, a ball over is cleared by Flynn but falls to Ellison who luckily can't contol in a promising position. On clearing Dawson sends a long ball forward that clears everbody and out of play harmlessly ,the start of many harmless balls to be played by both sides in the first half. The first third of the half ends with an attempt by Heald that makes the keeper hold well. With both sides struggling to get hold of the ball woodley break through the middle to reach Headley who shoots high & wide. A late tackle by heald is missed by referee Bonney but the next one 5 yards on is not. Headley finds Hanley who heads wide.



Niether side can find any rythmn with some scrappy passing by both sides. Woodley are rushing the game to claw back the advantage and with more experiance on this fast surface should have put it to better use.



Connell receives a verbal from the ref for questioning some borderline decisions on tackles. Griff uses a neat header close to the touchline to put Waine in a good position moving forward his onward pass is behind the boro attack and the move ends. Horrocks of Woodley is the first name in the book for contesting the foul on Oates. Sampson takes the kick and finds Dawsons head who finds Connetts hands. The ref sees sense when Ellison saves with both hands on the touchline as it was going out. No real impression on goal by either side. Some quality arrives on the 34 minute when Brown of Woodley sends a peach of a corner, curling in sharply Hall parrys the ball and finds the lurking Douglas - Pringle who as left his shooting boots in the car. Good work by the Boro centre halfs ensures Woodleys possesion majority remains just that as the half heads for the oranges.

Flynn is called on to deliver is long throw up field that leads to a scramble on the edge of the Woodley box a failed back heel by griff lands kindly for Dawson to shoot tamely at the goal.

Mark Jones shows his work ethic by chasing down the keeper a task himself and Connell do well throughout the game.

Last action of the half is in the Woodley box with dawson in the mix and failing to connect with the ball after Griff heads on well , he does connect with the woodley full back who receives treatment.

The second half sees the introduction of Phipps for Horrocks from the Bredbury outfit. Early pressure from Boro in and around the Woodley box no real danger but Oates is tackled perfectly by Ellison when in a good position. Connell as his blushes saved when he gives the ball to Hanley who is stopped in his tracks by Sampson, the ball continues towards the boro goal but the header is not strong enough to bear fruit. The game enters a period of tit for tat play with no one player managing to grip the game.Lots of niggly tackles around the park as both teams are frustrated with the lack of progress.


Hope is raised for Sports when Kelly gives a ball away under pressure that falls for Woodleys most impressive captain , he finds Hanley well who shoots wide.


The forwards are not winning against both sets of defenders and with no midfield creation little oppurtunities are presented.


Close to the hour a long throw by Flynn is sent goalward by the woodley centre halves back header , Connett saves well to push over the bar.


Scrappy work in the centre and Sampson fouls with complaints on the decision sees Mark Jones in the book. Heald is seen holding his ground by the assistant and recieves a word or two from the referee.


Some tidier work by Connell sees him break on goal and on reaching the box sends a cross in for Oates with the defender winning.


Boro subs are warming up but Woodley make the change Headley goes off with Queely on,


straight from the change connell finds Griff who cleverly waits for support Oates is anticipating but nothing arrives.


Moving toward the last quarter Douglas -Pringle keeps Woodley going with a good ball to Collins .


A better standard cross is delivered by Woodley with Salmon climbing high to bring a good stretching save by Hall to his right. Best action of the half .


Boro bring on Forrest for Waine and Woodley bring on McDonald for Brown.


Now in the last fifteen Woodley look the more likely with pressure on the Boro box , the back four defend well and the relief comes with Connell finding Mark Jones and works well for Oates to control and shoot wide.


Ten minutes to a clean sheet sees Oates off and Rutter on. Forrest uses a telling pass crossfield to Jones , Rutter in space cant gain advantage . An Heald freekick sees connell head well into space but nobody takes the offer. Rutter is running the line well and invites a foul. The kick is for Heald to take and his cross makes the keeper punch bravely as Connell arrives.


Woodley go looking for the equaliser and chance the gaps behind them. Boro cant capitalise as Woodley have some half chance shots in the closing minutes, the ref adds 3 minutes to this game of little goalmouth action. The whistle blows and Woodley are the more frustrated. Mark Jones' s reaction to the applauding boro fans sums up his determination and attitude to win. My man of the match goes to Gary Sampson who was comfortable all game with woodleys main threat.


The game was not a pretty one but the 3 points on the board certainly are.





Boro. hall,sampson,heald,kelly (c)flynn,dawson,connell,jones,jones(g)oates,waine. Subs: howson,forrest,chappell,rutter,brookes.

Woodley. Connett,brown,collins,ellison,mcgraph,kerr,headley,douglas-pringle,salmon,hanley,horrocks. Subs: Queeley,edwards,mcdonald,phipps,jarrett.