Goal!

Woodbury 4 Newtown 3rds 1

Woodbury made it 10 points from four games with a slick performance against the visitors.

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On a perfect Endurance Park surface it took a while for what was a make-shift Woods team to find their feet.

Once settled the first serious threat to the visitors goal came when Ryan Smith, in the right place at the right time, forced a great double

save from the goalkeeper.

The visitors, somewhat against the run of play, took the lead in the 20th minute when they punished a poor pass and finished well with what proved to be their only on-target shot of the entire game!

The Woodbury response was good. Steve Hunt steered a shot just over, Michael Simpson delivered a stunning pass into the area that no one got on the end of and both Richard Hill and Richie Ralph had efforts blocked.

At half-time Wood boss Adam Reid urged his players to continue the way they were approaching the game, feeling sure that the pressure would eventually tell.

Five minutes after the re-start injury struck with striker Kev Pitt limping out of the action with an ankle injury.

Andy Bennett was introduced to lead the line and he was involved in a sweeping move that ended with Simpson crossing and Bennett seeing his header well saved by the visiting glovesman.

The equaliser finally arrived on the hour. A Ralph corner was part cleared and returned to the area by Bennett and Luke Kelsall tucked the ball home from close range.

Hill then found the net only for the ‘goal’ to be over-ruled by a linesman’s flag. Undeterred, Hill showed strength and power to hold the defenders off before stabbing the ball home.

Bennett soon added a third and, with time running out, it was the substitute who tee’d up a free-kick that he promptly thumped into the net to complete the scoring.

Reid said: “I am delighted that the players showed such patience and resilience in this game. They kept doing what was asked of them and I was confident that once they got one they get more. For me the Man of the Match shift came from Andy Bennett with his brace and an assist. I also though Steve Hunt was magnificent, whilst there were some other big individual performances.

On Saturday the Woods travel to University.