Match report - Woodley Sports

As Town ran out on yet another cold evening at Cantilever Park, the crowd were expectant, having witnessed som scintillating displays of football on other such evenings. However, tonight the result didn't mean that anyone forgaot about the freezing cold and blustery rain.

Town started fairly well but went behind after only 12 minutes when the linesman seemed to spot a handball which had eluded the referee's notice even though he was standing about two yards away. The resulting penalty was fired in and Town had to pick up the pieces. After coming close from a header off a corner, Town threatened the Woodley Goal when a cross-cum-shot from the right was nearly turned home by a defender. Woodley got a corner a few minutes later however and went two up as the ball was booted in with the defence still shouting at each other to mark up.

After the half time break Town came out stronger, pulling one back through Tickle who did very well to beat two defenders before placing the ball neatly past the Woodley 'keeper. Town came close a minute later but the wind was becoming increasingly blustery and hence increasingly imfluential on the flight of the ball. Woodley stretched the lead with a free header direct from a corner , and as Town became more frustrated, Kevin Tyrell was booked. Woodley Sports were also playing a more physical game and it was the general feeling of the Bridge End crowd that several bookable offences were ignored by the ref.

The game then went through a stalemate stage before Town started to gradually turn the screw in the last ten minutes. They pulled one back when Robbie Priedt's long shot was deflected so much that the ball spooned right over the defence and nestled into the bottom corner past the flailing keeper. The chances were coming thick and fast for Town but the closest anyone came was Gavin McDonald who struck a vicisous drive onto the bar from just inside the box.

Town were unlucky not to get the point but will have to improve on recent form if they want to stay in contention for a decent finishing place.

Alan Hansen says: Och I meen how unlooky can yer gee'? Tha' Gavin McDoooooooonald mes be rooin' tha' last chaance oover and oover again. Bu' what aboot tha defeence, eh? I mean thi shouldn'ta leet threee gools in so eaasily, man.

ALL the drama in Tuesday's wind-assisted clash came in the last five minutes after it looked as though Woodley had blown Town away. The visitors, three places above Town in North West Trains League Division Two, held a 3-1 advantage with four minutes remaining.

Midfielder Robbie Preidt chanced a 30-metre shot which at first appeared to be wayward but the ball deflected off Andy Weardon's thigh and spun round stranded goalkeeper David Fish and into the back of the net. It paved the way for an exciting final few moments and Town looked to have won their first point in four outings in injury time.

Preidt's delicate chip over the Woodley defence found unmarked substitute Gavin MacDonald and his blast from five yards was finger-tipped on to the crossbar by Fish. Woodley had gone ahead through a Derek Hall penalty in the 11th minute. An assistant referee indicated to the penalty spot after noticing the ball had touched Mark Ashton's hand but it was a harsh decision after he had attempted to play the swirling ball with his chest.

Poor marking cost Town for the second goal after 30 minutes. Debut centre back Paul Wheeler made his way through a crowded penalty box to side-foot home a corner from an unmarked position. Town, with the wind now in their favour, pulled a goal back in the 54th minute. Sheer determination from midfielder Dave Tickle did the trick. He scrambled round two defenders in a 15-metre dance through the centre of Woodley's defence and somehow he managed to keep on his feet to slide the ball past Fish.

Eight minutes later Woodley had control again. From an inswinging free kick another debut centre back Steve Hibbert used his height advantage over Terry Nestor to nod the ball home. Despite a few goalmouth scrambles Town had no joy in front of goal again until those exciting last few minutes.

Town: Neil McCormack, Dave Pick, Steve Cartledge, Mark Ashton, Andy Harris, Dave Tickle, Terry Nestor, Kevin Tyrrell, Jed Bushell, Robbie Preidt, Neil Morgan. Subs used: Gavin McDonald, Neal Holden. Sub not used: Alan Blair.