Chairman sees rosy future for Woodley

Published 13 Jan 2010 18:00 0 Comments

WOODLEY Town chairman Mark Rozzier believes his side have made an encouraging start to their life in the Hellenic League.

Last year's Reading League champions have made a good impression in Division One (East) since promotion, and sit in eighth spot at the halfway stage of their season.

After a mixed start, which saw them lose four of their opening six matches - although three of those defeats came at the hands of current leading trio Wokingham & Emmbrook, Thame United and Henley Town - Woodley have settled down, recording an impressive 3-1 win at Holyport in their last game on December 12.

Indeed without the concession of last minute goals against Chalfont Wasps and Milton United, Cyril Fairchild's men could even have found themselves fighting it out in the top six.

And Rozzier admits the challenge of moving up to Step Six football is one that the team is enjoying.

He said: "We are enjoying life in the Hellenic League and have done well so far.

"Only Thame - who are probably the best all round side in the league - have beaten us by more than one goal.

"We've had a couple of very good results as well such as beating Holyport last time out.

"We had done well against the teams below us, but that was the first time we have beaten a team above us in the league.

"And we also beat Carterton from the Premier Division in the Challenge Cup, which was a very important win to show how the team has developed."

Reading League sides have had a good record in recent years after moving up to Hellenic League level.

Marlow United and Ascot United have both won promotion and established themselves in the Premier Division, while Newbury finished third last season in their first year in the league.

And Rozzier believes there is scope for Woodley to try and match those achievements in coming seasons.

He said: "It is a very competitive league and you really have to play at 100 per cent in every game.

"Sometimes in the Reading League you could get away with being below your best and still winning, but that definitely isn't the case in this league.

"But we have been pleased with how it has gone and we have been able to compete with teams who have been established for the last two or three years.

"I think that really shows that we have got something to build on in the next year or two, and then we will be able to challenge them on a level playing field."

Reading Town will be hoping to get back to action next week as their two scheduled games fell victim to the whiteout.

Town were due to travel to Pegasus Juniors in the league last Saturday and Shrivenham in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy last night (Wednesday) but both games were postponed.

And while Saturday's visit of Flackwell Heath may come too soon for the Scours Lane surface to be ready, Colin Millard's Hellenic Premier Division leaders could return to action with a tricky trip to fourth-placed Shortwood United next Tuesday.

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