Two days after exiting the FA Youth Cup despite a spirited effort at Boreham Wood, the Under 18s were back in action, this time entertaining Bury Town in the Eastern Junior Alliance. 
Only David Kempson, who started on Friday was also involved on Sunday, while there were debuts for midfielder, Mitchell Bennett & Under 16 attacker, Stuart Baillie. Without wanting to risk more of the ‘recovering’ players from Friday evening, Woodbridge were rocked by the non-appearance of two lads, which left just back-up goalkeeper, Lewis Rhodes as a substitute.

Bury took full advantage of Woodbridge’s suicidal passing on the edge of their own area after just 5 minutes, intercepting the ball, forcing a terrific save from Nathan Allinson & then reacting to the rebound quickest.

Bury were on top during the opening 20 minutes but were rocked by an equalizer when Ross Nicklin & James Crick pressured a Bury midfielder into a stray pass & James Churchill split the defence with a reverse ball that STUART BAILLIE latched onto & he coolly held off the last defender before slipping his shot past the keeper.

Boosted by the goal, Woodbridge became more attacking with Churchill heading straight at the keeper when well-placed, but paid the price when they were caught with too many bodies in Bury’s half when a move broke down & the visitors ruthlessly countered to create a 1v1 situation with Allinson, which duly resulted in their 2nd goal. James Wright missed a good chance, firing wide after Grant Salisbury’s storming run from right back, but the 2nd equalizer arrived almost immediately as Churchill put over the perfect cross, which STUART BAILLIE headed in from close range. Churchill himself had two good efforts at goal before the interval, hitting the side-netting with one snapshot & forcing a block from the keeper with another effort. 

The 2nd half was a tighter affair with Woodbridge’s lack of substitutes meaning many tired bodies had to do the full 90 minutes & the only goal efforts of note were Ben Hutton’s run from one penalty to the other to force a block from the keeper & Nicklin flashing a half-volley over. 
Bury meanwhile, enjoyed the bulk of the possession, but for once Woodbridge looked reasonably assured in defence, (even goalkeeper, turned emergency right-back, Rhodes) & dealt with most things that came into their area & both times that Allinson was really called upon he produced firstly a brave save at strikers’ feet & then diverted a wickedly-deflected shot around the post.

Team: Alinson, Salisbury (Rhodes 65), Hood-Wright, Wright, Hutton, Kempson, Nicklin, Crick, Churchill, Baillie & Bennett

Next Sunday, Woodbridge travel to Newmarket in the Eastern Junior Alliance, although the Ridgeons Youth League team host Leiston this Thursday evening.