MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
WOODFORD WANDERERS 4 OAKWOOD B 2

A deadly double from James Ryan enabled Woodford Wanderers to open a seven-point lead at the top of the table following a thrilling victory over title rivals Oakwood B.

Woodford saw off the challenge of Oakwood B to do their hopes of returning to the top-flight a whole load of good, with Adam Poole and Mitch Hahn securing the points.

POOLE put Woodford ahead after 25 minutes, latching on to an Alex Aviram free-kick, and they doubled their lead within five mins of the restart after some brilliant football on the right wing between Ryan and Tom Alexander, who crossed low for HAHN to score at the near post from an angle.

Sloppy defending allowed Oakwood back into the game through JAMES ABRAMS who levelled the scores with another from a corner, but with 15 minutes left the superb RYAN converted another Aviram set-piece with his head to put Woodford 3-2 up.

You could feel the tension around the pitch as Woodford defended everything that Oakwood threw at them and with five mins to go, Aviram whipped in yet another pinpoint delivery that RYAN Ryan audaciously flicked behind him and into the top corner.

Woodford joint-manager Daryl Kay told JC Sport: What a win today! We beat Oakwood 4-2 and thoroughly deserved it. We were superior in every position on the pitch and but for their goalie making three brilliant saves it would have been more.

"We had a last minute change of pitch due to Fairlop calling our game off, but were determined to play and credit to Oakwood, they were as well. The pitch was still terrible and we said that we couldn't afford to carry anyone today, and everyone stepped up the plate.

"We were brilliant today and we showed the league that we are the team to beat."

James Abrams scored both Oakwood goals and despondent Oaks boss Jason Stein told JC Sport: "With Woodford all but securing the title last week in the eyes of some, we knew this was always going to be tough match.

"And given the conditions I'm reluctant to call it a football match, but 22 people did indeed run after a ball for 90 minutes.

"I don't feel there was much between the sides but once again we were undone by our own weaknesses from set-pieces with three Woodford goals coming from them. Fair play to Woodford because not much football could be played today.

"We left ourselves an awful lot to do at 2-0 down and we showed terrific character to get it back to 2-2. At 2-2 we really fluffed our lines and missed two terrific chances that would have seen us go ahead including a Carl Peters header being cleared off the line. Unfortunately it didn't help that going into a match like this we were nowhere near full-strength due to circumstances outside of my control.

"Ultimately I don't think we deserved to win today and our decision making left a lot to be desired. But I'll take the positives. We may be eight behind Woodford, but with us having three games in hand I don't think they'll be spraying the Palwin just yet. There is a lot of football left to be played before the medals are handed out and I'm sure that my boys will respond to this."