It's been almost 11 years since my first and only visit to Woodford Town, so this Tuesday seemed like a very good opportunity to make a second trip to Byfield Road. Back in October 2014 I saw Woodford Town beat Wellingborough Whitworth 2-0 in an absolute downpour. In fact, the weather was so bad that evening that I didn't get the chance to do my usual walk around the ground.
Since that day in 2014, Woodford spent some time in the United Counties structure before dropping into the Northants Combination in 2017. Last season, on the back of a fourth place finish, they took a place in the Hellenic League Division One, back at Step 6 for the first time in eight years. This evening's opponents in this Hellenic League Cup tie, were FC Stratford. They started out as Stratford Town "A" but changed their name in 2011, joining the Midland Combination. They moved up to Step 6 at the end of lockdown, joining Division One of the Hellenic League, where they have remained, always finishing in the top half.
This season both teams have started reasonably well and were both above midway. The Bears sat 6th and Woodford 9th, four points worse off after playing a game more. United's league position would have been further enhanced if not for their home form, where they have failed to win in their opening five games, drawing three and losing two.
Since that day in 2014, Woodford spent some time in the United Counties structure before dropping into the Northants Combination in 2017. Last season, on the back of a fourth place finish, they took a place in the Hellenic League Division One, back at Step 6 for the first time in eight years. This evening's opponents in this Hellenic League Cup tie, were FC Stratford. They started out as Stratford Town "A" but changed their name in 2011, joining the Midland Combination. They moved up to Step 6 at the end of lockdown, joining Division One of the Hellenic League, where they have remained, always finishing in the top half.
This season both teams have started reasonably well and were both above midway. The Bears sat 6th and Woodford 9th, four points worse off after playing a game more. United's league position would have been further enhanced if not for their home form, where they have failed to win in their opening five games, drawing three and losing two.
Stratford pressing Thankfully the weather was a lot better than my first visit, so I was able to have a wander around the pitch and take up a position at the far side of the ground for the first half.
Whilst the opening encounters were fairly even, it was the visitors, in all blue, who were edging possession. Having said that, neither goalkeeper was troubled in the first 20 minutes. Woodford didn't really get too close to the Stratford goal, whereas Stratford constantly ruined good build-up play with wayward final balls.
Only after 24 minutes did we see some significant goalmouth action, and it came in Woodford's final third. Stratford's Sam Rodber was unlucky to see his rasping drive clatter off the inside of Lewis Hudson's right-hand post before flying across the face of the goal and out for a goal-kick. Two minutes later, Stratford were almost in again when captain Tom Daccus was played in but delayed his shot just long enough to allow a defender to get in a block. The visitors had finally turned their possession into chances and it felt as if it was just a matter of time until they scored.
Woodford, however, did begin to get themselves into mor promising positions and, just past the half-hour, Callum Haynes gave visiting goalkeeper Charlie McNamara something to think about, forcing the keeper into a good save. From the resulting corner, delivered deep to the far post, Joe Squirrell rose highest but was narrowly wide with the header.
It was much more promising from the reds but, with eight minutes to go before the break, they were indebted to their own goalkeeper, not once or twice but three times in a few seconds. Hudson reacted well to block from James Batchelor, denying the same player from the rebound and then making a reflex stop to prevent Daccus from snapping up the loose ball.
With the seconds ticking down to half-time, Stratford then almost snatched an unlikely lead when Haynes ghosted in at the far post to get on the end of a cross. Somehow, McNamara not only made up the ground to get across his goal but also managed to stick out a hand and make the point-blank stop to keep the scores level.
HT Woodford United 0 FC Stratford 0. The visitors had the best of the opening 30 minutes but lacked a final ball. Woodford worked their way back into game and almost snatched the lead near the break. Both goalkeepers, having been pretty dormant for the first 25 minutes, made very good stops to keep their sides in the game.
Whilst the opening encounters were fairly even, it was the visitors, in all blue, who were edging possession. Having said that, neither goalkeeper was troubled in the first 20 minutes. Woodford didn't really get too close to the Stratford goal, whereas Stratford constantly ruined good build-up play with wayward final balls.
Only after 24 minutes did we see some significant goalmouth action, and it came in Woodford's final third. Stratford's Sam Rodber was unlucky to see his rasping drive clatter off the inside of Lewis Hudson's right-hand post before flying across the face of the goal and out for a goal-kick. Two minutes later, Stratford were almost in again when captain Tom Daccus was played in but delayed his shot just long enough to allow a defender to get in a block. The visitors had finally turned their possession into chances and it felt as if it was just a matter of time until they scored.
Woodford, however, did begin to get themselves into mor promising positions and, just past the half-hour, Callum Haynes gave visiting goalkeeper Charlie McNamara something to think about, forcing the keeper into a good save. From the resulting corner, delivered deep to the far post, Joe Squirrell rose highest but was narrowly wide with the header.
It was much more promising from the reds but, with eight minutes to go before the break, they were indebted to their own goalkeeper, not once or twice but three times in a few seconds. Hudson reacted well to block from James Batchelor, denying the same player from the rebound and then making a reflex stop to prevent Daccus from snapping up the loose ball.
With the seconds ticking down to half-time, Stratford then almost snatched an unlikely lead when Haynes ghosted in at the far post to get on the end of a cross. Somehow, McNamara not only made up the ground to get across his goal but also managed to stick out a hand and make the point-blank stop to keep the scores level.
HT Woodford United 0 FC Stratford 0. The visitors had the best of the opening 30 minutes but lacked a final ball. Woodford worked their way back into game and almost snatched the lead near the break. Both goalkeepers, having been pretty dormant for the first 25 minutes, made very good stops to keep their sides in the game.
Woodford look for an equaliser Both teams were eager to get on with the second half, but it was Stratford who showed the first signs of intent when substitute Jamie Robinson took on and beat a defender before firing just over. A few minutes later Ethan Thompson rose high to meet a left-wing corner but Lewis Hudson was well positioned to claim the ball just under the crossbar. As in the first half, Stratford were definitely holding sway in terms of possession, but were not causing too many headaches for Hudson. That was the case until after the hour mark had passed.
68 minutes in though, Hudson was once again left thanking his woodwork as Daccus cut in from the left before unleashing a swerving drive that beat the keeper but struck the inside of the upright before flying to safety. Nine minutes later the hat-trick of efforts against the post was completed. Right-back Sahid Amir stepped inside before unleashing a rocket that slammed against the upright yet again. The home goal looked as though it was leading a charmed life and maybe it was going to be one of those nights for Stratford. Were they going to rue the misses and get hit by a late breakaway? After all, that almost happened in the first half.
They did, however, finally break the deadlock after 79 minutes. Jamie Robinson claimed the assist, laying the ball into the path of James Batchelor who fired his shot low past Hudson, and avoided hitting the post. 0-1
The home side did their best to respond in the time remaining. However, they could not find a way back into the game.
FT Woodford United 0 FC Stratford 1. A score that reflected the game well. Two pretty well-matched sides but, on the night, Stratford did just enough to take the victory. I believe both sides had made some changes from their previous starting eleven, so it's not really an indication to the remainder of the league season.
Speaking of which, Woodford return to Byfield Road in league action on Saturday as they welcome second from top Redditch Borough. FC Stratford, meanwhile, are at home too, but in the FA Vase. They take on Midland League side Stapenhill after already disposing of fellow Midlanders Cradley Town in the first qualifying round.
Woodford United: Hudson, Marriott, Young, Osborne(c), Hunt, Romao, Price, Haynes, Lawes, Squirrell, Ibbottson. Subs: Goddard, Miller, Hanif, Hanson, O'Rourke
FC Stratford: McNamara, Amir, Cook, Williams, Purvin, McGregor, Batchelor, Thompson, Daccus(c), Rodber, Sone. Subs: Baldwin, A.Robinson, J.Robinson, Stubbs-Jeavons, Hodson
68 minutes in though, Hudson was once again left thanking his woodwork as Daccus cut in from the left before unleashing a swerving drive that beat the keeper but struck the inside of the upright before flying to safety. Nine minutes later the hat-trick of efforts against the post was completed. Right-back Sahid Amir stepped inside before unleashing a rocket that slammed against the upright yet again. The home goal looked as though it was leading a charmed life and maybe it was going to be one of those nights for Stratford. Were they going to rue the misses and get hit by a late breakaway? After all, that almost happened in the first half.
They did, however, finally break the deadlock after 79 minutes. Jamie Robinson claimed the assist, laying the ball into the path of James Batchelor who fired his shot low past Hudson, and avoided hitting the post. 0-1
The home side did their best to respond in the time remaining. However, they could not find a way back into the game.
FT Woodford United 0 FC Stratford 1. A score that reflected the game well. Two pretty well-matched sides but, on the night, Stratford did just enough to take the victory. I believe both sides had made some changes from their previous starting eleven, so it's not really an indication to the remainder of the league season.
Speaking of which, Woodford return to Byfield Road in league action on Saturday as they welcome second from top Redditch Borough. FC Stratford, meanwhile, are at home too, but in the FA Vase. They take on Midland League side Stapenhill after already disposing of fellow Midlanders Cradley Town in the first qualifying round.
Woodford United: Hudson, Marriott, Young, Osborne(c), Hunt, Romao, Price, Haynes, Lawes, Squirrell, Ibbottson. Subs: Goddard, Miller, Hanif, Hanson, O'Rourke
FC Stratford: McNamara, Amir, Cook, Williams, Purvin, McGregor, Batchelor, Thompson, Daccus(c), Rodber, Sone. Subs: Baldwin, A.Robinson, J.Robinson, Stubbs-Jeavons, Hodson
Byfield Road
The Ground
Situated approximately midway between Banbury and Daventry, Woodford United are based in the village of Woodford Halse. Their Byfield Road ground is to the North East of the centre and is part of a multi-sport complex that also hosts Woodford Halse Cricket Club and Woodford Cum Membris Bowls Club. The access road from Byfield Road takes you past the football ground and into a reasonably large car park. Access to the football pitch is via a gate and hut where you can pay and get a hand stamp for access back out to the club house, the entrance to which is outside the main stadium enclosure. The majority, if not all, of the facilities are on this car park side of the ground. There's a main stand, the Adie Kee Memorial Stand , which sits in front of the clubhouse and has plenty of covered seating. This side of the ground is raised above pitch level and there us another covered standing area, with good views across the paying surface, on this side of the ground. In the corner, behind and to the side of the access road end goal, there is another wooden covered standing area. The dugouts are diretly in front of the main stand and the rest of the playing area is surrounded by hard standing.
Situated approximately midway between Banbury and Daventry, Woodford United are based in the village of Woodford Halse. Their Byfield Road ground is to the North East of the centre and is part of a multi-sport complex that also hosts Woodford Halse Cricket Club and Woodford Cum Membris Bowls Club. The access road from Byfield Road takes you past the football ground and into a reasonably large car park. Access to the football pitch is via a gate and hut where you can pay and get a hand stamp for access back out to the club house, the entrance to which is outside the main stadium enclosure. The majority, if not all, of the facilities are on this car park side of the ground. There's a main stand, the Adie Kee Memorial Stand , which sits in front of the clubhouse and has plenty of covered seating. This side of the ground is raised above pitch level and there us another covered standing area, with good views across the paying surface, on this side of the ground. In the corner, behind and to the side of the access road end goal, there is another wooden covered standing area. The dugouts are diretly in front of the main stand and the rest of the playing area is surrounded by hard standing.
The Programme
A twelve page, full colour, glossy magazine which contains a message from the manager,squad lists for both teams, a brief history of Woodford and a couple of articles highlighting player progression within the club (nice touch).
At £2.50 it's on the more epxensive side but it's well put together and has the feel of a professional programme. There is also an option to download the programme using a QR code.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 60
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £2.50
A twelve page, full colour, glossy magazine which contains a message from the manager,squad lists for both teams, a brief history of Woodford and a couple of articles highlighting player progression within the club (nice touch).
At £2.50 it's on the more epxensive side but it's well put together and has the feel of a professional programme. There is also an option to download the programme using a QR code.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 60
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £2.50
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