SANDHURST TOWN maintained their perfect start to the season with a clean sheet win over Woodley United.
Despite losing out to the league leaders, Woodley put in a spirited display and gave the hosts a tough test.
The game started at a fast pace with Sandhurst’s front three constantly on the move and interchanging position and nearly took the lead as early as the second minute when a United defensive header went past the stranded Sam Dabinett but went wide of an open goal.
Dabinett was required to parry from ex-Woodley United player Josh Millo in the sixth minute while Woodley’s Kaylum Barlow fired over the home goal from Abdul Afolabi’s header at the far post.
Joao Jardim saw a shot rebound back into play from the visitors’ cross bar following good work by Jose Dani before the hosts opened the scoring in the twentieth minute when Millo was allowed to fire home from just inside the Woodley penalty area following a cleared corner kick.
A good United move from defence to attack involving Marco DeSousa, the impressive Connor Suckling and Barlow saw the final pass narrowly evade advancing Afolabi and run to home keeper Emilo Fantocchio.
Dabinett did well to block Dani in the twenty ninth minute and a minute later Michael O’Connor put over the Woodley goal. The end to end play continued with Woodley being awarded a penalty after 34 minutes, but Afolabi’s tame kick went straight to Fantucchio.
This was followed shortly afterwards by Afolabi rounding the keeper and crossing from the goal line for the ball to be cleared in the goal area and Famtocchio saving low from Sid Gbla’s shot.
The second and crucial goal came five minutes before half time when Dabinett parried a Millo cross which Sam Mead drove the ball into an unguarded net.
The game restarted after the break at a quick pace. Barlow had a cross easily collected by Famtocchio, while the Fizzers’ Jack Penton shot wide from the edge of the penalty area and a Mead header was comfortably caught by Dabinett.
United responded with Famtocchio catching a Suckling cross, Zach Tull seeing a free kick go over the cross bar and Brandao heading a ball straight at Fantocchio from a Massaquoi cross.
The introduction on McKoy Palmer added extra tempo to Woodley’s play but they were unable to find the important breakthrough goal and were punished in the 84th minute when a home team clearance found Millo on his right flank where he ran with the ball before passing to Jardim who beat Dabinett.
With the additional breathing space this goal gave Town, they were able to see the game to full time and take all three match points.
Sandhurst Town: Fantocchio, Steinborn-Busse, Slade, Penton, Haworth, Vass, Millo, O’Connor, Jardim, Mead, Sani
Woodley United: Dabinett, DeSousa, Massaquoi, Downes (Rushforth), Williams, Tull, Gbla, Brandao, Afolabi (Palmer), Suckling, Barlow (Carolan) Subs not used Chowdhary, Watkiss
Goals: Josh Millo, Sam Mead, Joao Jardim
