Penn secure hard earned “Double” over Woodley Town

Penn & Tylers Green 3 – 2 Woodley Town

Penn secured their first double of the season when they overturned a half time deficit to record a narrow 3-2 win in a game that was a classic example of that famous cliché : “a game of two halves”.

To say Penn started slowly would be an understatement, as after two minutes Woodley’s Danny Gordon beat his man and smashed in a shot from 25 yards which flew past Matt Cannings into the top corner. This should stir Penn surely? No! Woodley continued to take the game to Penn and could have added a second goal, but they lacked the final finish, and Matt in goal was a solid last man. The crowd of 47 scattered around the new five hundred seater stand (my imagination running wild again!) were growing restless at Penn’s lacklustre performance. Then in the 25th minute, Penn woke up and surged into the Woodley penalty area where Rino Sepede was tripped, but the referee played on, then gave the penalty when no advantage was gained. Excellent refereeing from a Penn point of view. Woodley had a different view, well aired at the time. Jamie West stepped up and crashed in a perfect penalty low to the keeper’s right hand. Game on, this surely would inevitably spur Penn from their slumbers? No!. Woodley were still on top and right from the kick off attacked the Penn goal, seemingly at will. It was therefore no surprise when in the 30th minute Woodley regained the league when a simple throw-in was nodded on and the unmarked Johnny Donegan had a simple header to make it 2-1 to Woodley. Woodley remained on top for the remainder of the half and Penn were somewhat relieved to go in only 2-1 down.

They say Managers half time decisions and team talks can turn games and this was the case today when Johnny Sepede boldly decided to go with three at the back, with Sam Walters moving forward to midfield and Chris Hurst coming in from the left to play in his favoured central midfield role, behind the forwards. The game changed dramatically from the kick off as Penn now controlled the midfield and were passing the ball around with a lot more confidence and using the width of the pitch to good effect, unlike in the first half. In the 55th minute they were rewarded with the equaliser ,as Chris Hurst floated in a delightful free kick to the far post where Antonio Sepede met it and headed in easily. 2-2, all to play for.

Penn were now well on top, although Woodley were still dangerous on the break and had a couple of good opportunities to take the lead. One such chance was following a good flowing move down the right which ended with Matt Cannings in goal coming to Penn’s rescue with a stupendous save as he tipped the shot onto the bar and over. Penn also cleared off the line following a header from a Woodley corner. Phew!

Penn, to be fair, continued to have the better of the play and in the 75th minute they were finally rewarded for their second half superiority when a delightful ball from Jack Dean released Chris Hurst through on goal, one on one, and as the goalkeeper advanced, he expertly clipped the ball over his head and the ball rolled nicely into the back of the net. Perfect!

Penn strived for that killer fourth goal and Mike Benning, for Alan Ackerman, and Liam Radcliffe for Jamie West, were brought on to replace tired limbs and they made a good contribution to the last fifteen minutes with Mike helping to sure up the midfield and Liam harassing and working tirelessly up front keeping the Woodley defenders occupied.

Penn played out the last few minutes in relative comfort for a good hard earned three points which moved them up to third in the league behind Chalfont Wasps and Rayners Lane.

Tony Hurst Chairman