Despite the set-back Woodbridge passed the ball around patiently & created the next two clear chances as Ross Hutchings sliced wide after Craig Jennings had flicked on Jonjo Hood-Wright’s cross & following a quick corner routine Sean Rea lifted his shot over the keeper but a defender managed to hack the ball off the line.

On 20 minutes a Stanway clearance into the Woodbridge half caught Grant Salisbury, Martin Bultitude & Nathan Allison all in bad positions & on their heels & a Stanway forward raced through to lob the ball effortlessly home.

This 2nd goal saw Stanway take a real grip on the game & they pinned Woodbridge back for the remainder of the half, but without creating any clear chances until 41st minute & even then it took a terrific angled strike which flew in off the post to put Stanway 3-0 ahead.

Spirits were not dampened despite the score-line & Woodbridge began the 2nd half on the front foot & Craig Jennings quickly pulled a goal back with a 20 yard strike. Almost immediately, Jennings succumbed to a groin injury, but Woodbridge retained their goal threat with Ben Hutton firing inches wide on two occasions while Miles Powell deflected Sean Rea’s free-kick over the bar.
The longer the game went on without a 2nd Woodbridge goal the more gaps appeared in the home defence & midfield, but Allison made two good saves, watched another shot whistle past his post while an even better effort rebounded off the woodwork.

With 10 minutes left. Woodbridge were reduced to 10 men when with both substitutes used, James Churchill limped off, but at least they managed to prevent Stanway from adding to their goal tally & may even have recorded a 2nd goal when Ben Hutton was hauled down in the penalty area in injury time, but while the referee ruled against Woodbridge on this occasion, Salisbury was relieved when he made a late & crude tackle despite being already cautioned & got away with only a reprimand.

All in all, this was a fair result with Stanway demonstrating why they are pushing for the title, but the chances are the Woodbridge line-up consisted of more future 1st team players?

Team: Allison, Fulker (Holmes 56), Hood-Wright, Rea, Bultitude, Salisbury, Hutchings, Powell, Hutton, Churchill, Jennings (Garnham 60)

Next Sunday, the Eastern Junior Alliance team host Heybridge (2pm kick off)