Report

Woodstock returned to winning ways against a very hard working and resolute Lordwood side on Saturday at the WE Manin stadium. Sports started brightly and took the game to the visitors and almost took a early lead when from a corner on the right Lewis Rivett powered in a header that crashed against the bar and rebounded to safety. Then on 12 minutes the visiting keeper did well to push over a Lee Hockey free kick. Sports finally converted their dominance into goals on 15 minutes when Ricky Freeman played a great ball in from the left and James McDonald slipped his marker to opening the scoring from 12 yards.  Lordswood’s reply was positive and within 3 minutes Englefield lasted home a great volley from 25 yards to put the game level. Memories of the 4-4 draw back in December came flooding back but despite Lordswood being the more dominate and striking the post the sides went in at one each.

The second half started as brightly as the first and two minutes in Ricky Freeman cut in from the left and fired in a shot from the edge of the area the Lordswood keeper did well to save but James McDonald was at hand to lash the loose ball home. Five minutes later substitute Joe Sands sent a great cross in from the right that was knocked down the Lynden Rowland who’s snap shot was defected and found its way into the net for Woodstock’s third. Lordswood worked hard to get back into the game as Sports seemed to sit back on their lead , on 67 minutes Lordswood broke down the right and a good finish from the just inside the box put them back into the game.

Both sides then had opportunities with Lordswood perhaps the guiltier of wasting the hard fought chances created especially in the period after their second goal. As the game progressed Sports started to get a better grip and took pressure off by pushing forward themselves and in the end did well to maintain their lead and the three points.