“Woodley taken to town”

View from the Bench

Saturday 3rd September 2011

Woodley Town 1 – 4 Penn & Tylers Green FC

One hundred years ago, Woodley was a small rural community with less than one thousand inhabitants. Fifty years ago, although the population had grown a little, the majority of the homes were not on main drainage and there was very little street lighting. Bread and milk were delivered by horse and cart and on Sunday afternoons the Muffin Man made his rounds with a tray of muffins on his head and announcing his presence by ringing a handbell.

Today Woodley is a thriving town of approximately 26,000 residents and sits between Reading and Wokingham. Woodley is a diverse community with a busy shopping precinct, weekly markets and two leisure centres. Woodley is also home to the Museum of Berkshire Aviation and has a rich military aviation history and a football club.

Well, the above does not really matter because today Penn & Tylers Green FC gave a very “professional” performance against a Woodley Town who have been tough opponents over the last few years. I believe this is the first time we got a win at East Park Farm in front of 33 spectators (of which one was an away supporter – the old git Secretary).

Solid in defence

In the first half, which ended 0:0, Penn & Tylers Green FC were always on top. Playing as a team the boys denied the opposition any space and as a result of that allowed Woodley Town only one chance from a free kick, which was deflected over the bar. In fact Chris Hurst had a couple of good opportunities in the first half. As it turned out the first half was used “to knock the opposition into shape”. Antonio Sepede and Alan Ackerman were solid in the centre of the park; Adam Sharp and Jamie West doing the job with James Louison and Dan Arnett solid in the centre of the defence. Matt Cannings was reliable between the sticks dealing well with the back passes. Jack Dean gave everyone a giggle with his attempted shot which somehow ended up behind him.

In the second half the territorial advantage was turned into tangible results by scoring goals. The first one was a result of a neat one – two between Rino Sepede and Sam Walters down the left with Sam scoring from close range. This was the breakthrough Penn & Tylers Green FC needed. It was one-way traffic from then on.

The second goal was a beauty. On the D Rino Sepede, surrounded by three opposition players, killed the ball and then in Uwe Seeler fashion he decided that the three players were not really there and let fly from the edge of the box with the ball ending up in the top left corner. I would have paid an entrance fee for this goal (as it happens as Secretary I get in for free). This goal knocked the stuffing out of the opposition and their heads dropped.

The third one was a fair reward for hard working Jack Dean. With the ball coming across goal from the right wing, missing two or three players in the process, the ball ended up at Jack’s feet. He had time to make a cup of tea and then placed the ball in to the net from the edge of the six yard box. The celebration was good and this time he kept his shirt on, thus avoiding a silly yellow card.

All under control

The gaffer then made a couple of substitutions with Liam Ratcliffe and Dean Munday coming on. Both fitted in seamlessly and contributed to the solid team performance.

Then came the moment we call “inspired substitution”, when the gaffer can do no wrong. With a couple of minutes to go Wayne Booth came on and with his only touch in pure Horst Hrubesch fashion produced a fantastic header from about 10 to 13 yards after a cross from the right, which ended up in the top left corner. Brilliant goal, OK celebration, 100% efficiency.

Woodley Town’s consolation goal was due to lack of concentration. The ball was crossed from the right and the shot hit the underside of the bar – unlike 1966 the ball was over the line this time.

This was a good day at the office.

Man of the match: Rino Sepede

Match Report by Andreas Latta (Secretary)