The influential Jon Bickers joined Tony Boto on the injured list and was replaced in the starting line up by Arran Sheppard whilst Lee O' Neill started a match for the first time this season replacing Ben Seaman on the left.

The visitors made a confident start flashing a first minute shot wide of the upright and from then on dominated first half possession frustrating Woodbridge's attempts to play football from the back.

It was no real surprise that Kirkley took a 15th minute lead, but the manner of the goal provided talking points aplenty for the home supporters. Ben Garnham conceded a free kick 20 yards from goal and with Marcus Garnham four yards off his line having positioned a three man 'wall', left Jamie Stokeold a gaping hole in which to place his free kick and a minute later whilst the Woodbridge defence were still reeling from the opening goal Michael Tacon doubled the lead for the visitors.

Kirkley keeper Nathan Pauling had little to do in the opening half hour except cleanly handle one cross and a free kick until Lee O'Neill was fouled in the box and Woodbridge were thrown a lifeline back into the game. Disappointingly for the hopeful home supporters Paul Berry's poorly placed spot kick was all too easy for Pauling.

To their credit, after the interval Woodbridge appeared a different team with the second half played at a frightening  pace and for long periods Woodbridge had Kirkley & Pakefield on the back foot leaving Garnham in the home goal and the Woodbridge defence little to do. Sadly for Woodbridge the Kirkley defence were extremely well organised and always had sufficient numbers behind the ball to thwart Woodbridge's reluctance to get shots on goal. Jamie Scales caught one glimpse of goal but his low snap shot was just wide.

Mark Roper pushed forward in the latter stages as Woodbridge attempted to salvage the game and he had the ball in the net after Pauling had only parried a low shot but had been in an offside position at the first attempt.

Woodbridge now face two tough fixtures in the next seven days with visits to Dereham and Lowestoft and will need performances void of defensive jitters and a sharper more proactive attack to earn a point or two.

Woodbridge Team: M. Garnham, Sheppard, Monaghan, B. Garnham, Roper, Miller, Churchyard  Hart, Blake, Berry, O’Neill. Subs: Scales, Seaman, Read.