FC WOODLEY sealed all three points at the end of a pulsating Reading & District League Division One home game against Woodley United, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors had the best of the opening exchanges, but were dealt a bitter blow on 26 minutes when a breakaway on the right culminated in a fine low shot to beat keeper Stephen Brearley.

Tom Shone and Rob Timbers battled bravely up front for United, but just could not find an opening against a dogged FC Woodley defence.

The best chance of the first half for the away side came when centre-back Murray Dick beat the offside trap, but failed to capitalise when one-on-one with the keeper.

Both teams cancelled each other out in the second half and it took until the 85th minute when an FC Woodley corner from the right-hand side was met with a powerful header to give Brearley no chance and put the hosts 2-0 up.

United were rewarded for their hard work in the closing minutes when man-of-the-match Timbers was brought down by the advancing FC Woodley keeper. Jonathan Malone calmly converted the spot-kick but it did not give United enough time to force an equaliser.

Table-toppers Le Galaxy moved 15 points clear after Spencers Wood conceded their game, with rock-bottom Kidmore End/The Mod doing the same in the Senior Division against Reading YMCA.

The County won the battle of the bottom two in the Premier Division with ease, thrashing Ghana Stars 7-0, while AFC Pangbourne have forfeited their remaining matches to gift three points to five other sides including leaders Purley.

In Division Two, WS Hobnob leapfrogged Falcon into fourth place courtesy of a 3-1 victory.

Division Three West leaders AFC Basildon obliterated Mortimer Reserves 8-1, and Southcote Reserves went top of Division Four West by smashing Burghfield Reserves 8-0.