Squad

Unfortunately Woodside had only 10 players for the start of this game and by the end no more than 7 players remained on the field. So, in fairness, this was never an even contest.

In the first half Woodside only conceded 3 goals and put up stout resistance for long periods of play and, as ever, Daniel Green made several outstanding saves.

In the second half the backbone of Woodside’s defence was broken when Luke Dennis sustained an injury which he could not shrug off and then Ryan Donnelly came off with a bad cut to the knee. This, inevitably, allowed the flood gates to open for Brackley who scored at regular intervals to make the final score 10-0. However, Woodside kept battling throughout with very good performances coming from Mark Stevens and Myles Millward.

In this encounter Woodside took on second in the league Brackley Athletic and walked away with an astounding 2-1 victory.

The first half started with a very confident Brackley side but Woodside set about defending with strength and determination. There were very few clear cut chances for either side but Brackley came closest to scoring twice by striking just wide and just over the goal on 25 and 35 minutes. The second half remained in deadlock although Woodside came close with Ryan Donnelly striking just wide on the turn. Then, after 25 minutes Brackley finally managed to unlock the Woodside defence with a well worked move which was finished exquisitely by one of their strikers who dribbled past two defenders and slotted home, 0-1. This immediately awoke Woodside’s self belief and straight away they levelled the scores with a fantastic James Clarke strike from outside the box which curled in to the top right of the goal, 1-1. Then a few minutes later and with only 7 minutes to go, Jack Delgiacco scored the winner with a well taken shot after a scramble in front the Brackley goal, 2-1.

This was Woodside’s most emphatic result of the season so far and was fully deserved as every single player gave their utmost. The whole team played as a unit with great understanding, stifling the opposition and setting up some wonderful moves.

After a run of good form, this game was Woodside’s sternest test yet as MK Wanderers started the undoubted favourites. Woodside didn’t disappoint and ended up the true winners.

At the start Woodside were a little cagey but defended very well with Daniel Green pulling off a marvellous early save. Wanderers had most of the possession but Woodside played a good spoiling game forcing the opposition into mistakes and taking hasty shots. Then after 15 minutes, against the run of play, Luke Dennis put Jack Delgiacco through to score with a well taken shot, 1-0. Shortly afterwards, Woodside scored again from an Adam Moore cross which found Mark Stevens to finish with a powerful strike, 2-0. This didn’t stop MK Wanderers resolve and their relentless pressure eventually told when they scored an easy goal headed in from a long throw-in, 2-1. Wanderers then had several more chances but failed to convert thanks to some good fortune and excellent defending.

Wanderers continued strongly in the second half but Woodside nearly scored a breakaway goal with Delgiacco hitting the crossbar. However, Wanderers gradually wore down the Woodside defence and again scored from another headed throw-in, 2-2. This equaliser seemed to awaken the determination in all of the Woodside players and from this point on they played magnificently. On 25 minutes, Lewis Ottaway threw in to Ryan Donnelly who passed to James Clarke who turned and scored with a quick snapshot, 3-2. Then in midfield, Myles Millward picked up a loose ball and beat the keeper from 20 yards out with a fabulous strike, 4-2. Woodside then held firm for the last ten minutes of play comfortably containing anything Wanderers could throw at them. Particular praise goes to defenders Sohi, Mattacks, Tomkins, Nash and, especially, Luke Dennis who had an inspirational game both in defence and attack.

With both sides standing 4th equal in the league, the result of this game was vital for each team and Woodside proved to be worthy winners.

The first half was very evenly balanced with Brook End striking at pace whilst the Woodside build ups were a little slower but consisted of more passing moves and, without doubt, Daniel Green kept Woodside in the game with three outstanding saves. Towards the end of the half, Woodside then assembled a passage of breathtaking play which resulted in three goals. First, Frazer McJannet put a long ball through and Ryan Donnelly blocked the goalie’s attempted clearance allowing him an easy tap in, 1-0. Then Adam Moore crossed from wide to Myles Millward to James Clarke back to Myles and again to James for him to blast home, 2-0. The next goal came from a powerful Millward shot, which could only be parried by the goalie giving Jack Delgiacco the chance to slot in from a very narrow angle, 3-0.

In second half Brook End’s determination started to pay off. First of all they scored shortly after Jack Hawks, who had a wonderful game, was taken off injured, 3-1. They then scored again shortly afterwards by outstretching the Woodside defence, 3-2. And after 25 minutes the scores were levelled when Brook End lobbed over the defence, who remained static thinking it was offside, for an easy finish, 3-3. During this run of Brook End play, Woodside did manage to mount several attacks of their own with Moore coming closest to scoring with shot rebounding off the crossbar. To Woodside’s credit, their team spirit and fortitude never wavered and with 15 minutes of play left they struck the deserved winner with some clever interplay allowing Millward to finish from close range, making the final score of this enthralling game 4-3.