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Woodbury 2, Chulmleigh 1

With Endurance Park unavailable owing to it being required for Royal Marines football, this Fresha League Division Four game was switch to the Archery Club on Withycombe Common.

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The visitors, despite arriving with three substitutes opted to begin with ten players as they awaited the late arrival of one of their most influential players.

Woodbury began well and were on top from the first whistle and remained that way even after the visitors’ were restored to a full complement five minutes after the start.

Woodbury were lively in the final third, but found the Chulmleigh keeper to be in great form. At the other end the visiting forward line was well controlled by the Woodbury centre back pairing of Andy Bennett and Paul Rowsell.

The visitors were reduced to ten-men again when the late arrival was showed a straight red card for kicking out, leaving referee Steve Banks, who had a fine game throughout, no option.

On the half hour Kev Pitt spurned a gilt-edged chance, but the hit man made amends moments later when he scored the games opening goal.

Woodbury glovesman Alan Doble distributed the ball intelligently to Luke Kelsall who embarked on a good run down the left before squaring to Alex Hughes and his clever pass released Declan Bourne who advanced before slipping the ball into the path of Pitt who slotted it past the keeper to complete a superb team move.

Woodbury made a bright start to the second period and were almost two up when a Richie Ralph shot fizzed just wide.

Injury struck the hosts with left back Russell Pengelly taking a blow to his right knee that ended his afternoon and Rhys Perry was switched from right back to left back with Charlie Page moved to his favoured right back berth.

The two sides both lost a player on the hour mark with Hughes picking up a second yellow card whilst a visiting player got a straight red to leave the last third of the contest being one of the home side ten versus the visiting nine!

Doble made a smart save to maintain the home lead before a freak goal doubled the Woodbury advantage. The Chulmleigh keeper Steve Johns launched a clearance that struck Kelsall on the back of his head before looping back over the glovesman and into the net!

Injury struck again with Pitt withdrawn after a knee injury and Michael Simpson was summoned from the bench to plough a lone furrow up front.

Shortly after Paul Rowsell succumbed to injury and Will Bennett was introduced. Four minutes from time the visitors got a consolation, but Woodbury were not to be denied and saw the game out in some comfort.

Woods boss Adam Reid said: “Luke Kelsall was my Man of he Match, but there was also an exceptional shift on the opposite flank from Declan Bourne. The whole team worked very hard and the communication on the pitch was the best I have been able to enjoy since becoming boss. Given that Chulmleigh will end the season in a top three berth, it’s very encouraging for us to have taken four points off them this season.

Woodbury team: A Doble, Perry, A Bennett, Paul Rowsell (Will Bennett 70), Pengelly (Page 55), Bourne, Ralph, Wayne Rowsell, Hughes, Kelsall, Pitt (Simpson 65).