Shortwood 2 Clanfield 0 – UHL Hellenic League Division 1
Shortwood made it four league wins on the spin and have now gone 283 minutes since they conceded a goal as they beat high-flying Clanfield 2-0 at Meadowbank, writes Harry Ash.
They were indebted to keeper Joe Wright and the woodwork however in the first half but were comfortable after scoring early in the second half to take the points.
Wood made the perfect start as Dom Kent smashed a dipping 25 yard shot into the roof of the net after just two minutes before Clanfield took the game to Wood and Wright made the first of several stops saving with his feet from Reuben as he cut in and then saved impressively from Kimber.
Although Wood looked dangerous going forward Clanfield had no luck as the hit the Wood bar twice in a minute as first Reuben headed against the bar and then Hall hit the bar with a powerful shot. Byrnes hit a shot narrowly wide but it took Wright, again, to deny Kimber. The game changed in added time when Clanfield’s Rhys King was rightly sent off for a horrible challenge on Gardner.
Within three minutes of the restart Wood scored their second. Payne’s cross was headed out but only to Elliot Martin who controlled the ball and shot home from the edge of the area, Wood brought on Dan Gayner to replace Bradshaw who had not recovered from a blow he received towards the end of the first half and he forced keeper Zolan into a flying tip over on the hour.
Wood were in control now and although Clanfield had their fair share of possession they rarely looked dangerous and it was Wood who always looked more like to score and Jaggers came inches away from adding a third with a shot that clipped the outside of the post.
There was a lengthy delay with 13 minutes of added time as Clanfield had a player stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder.
When the full-time whistle blew the Wood were rightly warmly applauded from the field after another impressive win after one of the best games seen at the Wood this season.
The games do not get any easier for the Wood as they face two difficult away games in a row against top five sides Abingdon on Saturday and then Redditch.
Meanwhile the Reserves picked up a highly impressive point at table-topping Tetbury after a goalless draw and they are at home to Wotton next Saturday – kick-off 2.30pm.
Shortwood: Wright, Williams, King T, Byrnes, Tryner (Whelan 65), Smith, Gardner (Jaggers 62), Kent (King E 79), Bradshaw (Gayner 49), Martin (Price 75), Payne
MOM – Joe Wright
