The absence of long-term injury victims Allicion Blake and Ben Seaman plus Paul Berry and Jamie Scales did not help the Woodbridge cause, but they can have no complaints at the outcome.

With Blake's proposed transfer to AFC Sudbury falling through as it looks like he now needs an operation on his knee injury and Berry's impending departure after he was made available for transfer, the situation is not going to ease for new manager Glenn Read, who was sent from the dugout by referee Simon Long for something he said after a bad tackle by Gerard Nash.

The former Ipswich Town defender escaped with a yellow card following the 71st minute incident, but by then the Woodpeckers were already trailing 2-0 and staring defeat in the face.

Chris Henderson put Kirkley ahead in the 17th minute, taking a return pass in his stride to fire across Marcus Garnham and inside the far post after a swift break down the left wing.
Apart from an early effort off target by Paul Hart and two driving runs into the Kirkley box by Ben Garnham, Woodbridge offered little threat on the Kirkley goal until just before the break when Jon Bickers chested down a long ball forward and laid it into the path of Craig Jennings whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Kirkley opened the second period with Jamie Stokled going close twice with left-foot efforts and Nathan Stone volleying wide after Jordan Blyth flicked the ball on.

Lee O'Neill, a half-time substitute for Ben Garnham, set up Bickers in the 65th minute but his shot on the turn was wide of Nathan Pauling's right-hand post.

Kirkley went straight to the other end and doubled their advantage when Aaron Churchyard failed to cut out a long ball and Henderson, who had looped a header onto the roof of the Woodbridge net just before half tme, crossed for Stone to force home from close range.
The persistence of the hard-working Bickers created a chance for Woodbridge to get back in the game three minutes later when he charged down Pauling's attempted clearance and crossed into the goalmouth where Jennings completely missed his kick with the keeper still out of position.

Marcus Garnham saved well from the impressive Henderson after Churchyard was caught in possession and from the resultant corner Blyth headed just over.
But a poor clearance by the keeper seven minutes later went straight to Stone who bore down on goal before slipping home the third.

With the tie settled Woodbridge brought on youngsters Sean Rea and Stefan Marsh and after Bickers had seen an effort saved by Pauling, Kirkley scored their fourth when substitute Scott Manning's determined run down the left ended with Grant Monaghan turning the ball into his own net via the inside of the near post.

Woodbridge: Marcus Garnham; Aaron Churchyard, Mark Roper, Gerard Nash, Grant Monaghan; Arran Sheppard (sub Sean Rea 83 mins), Luke Read, Ben Garnham (sub Lee O'Neill 46 mins), Craig Jennings (sub Stefan Marsh 83 mins); Jon Bickers, Paul Hart. Unused sub: Tom Ross.