UNDER-PAR Woodley United survived a scare as they edged past Winchester City Flyers 1-0 in their Southern Region Women’s Football League Jubilee Cup Group B encounter.

Bottom of the group and with only one competitive win all season, Flyers enjoyed the best of the opening 25 minutes with forward Kate Johns lively and twice hitting the woodwork, while Holly Wilkins and Alice Cooke both made last-ditch tackles that saw the ball cleared for corner kicks.

United’s best chance during the half fell to Jodie Penny, who, seeing home keeper Lizzie Morris out of position, put her shot narrowly wide of the keeper’s right post.

Rosie Page-Smith also shot wide on two occasions from distance.

A change to player positions at the break saw Woodley play with more fluency in the second half with Page-Smith having two goals disallowed, one for a foul in the 47th minute and one for offside 12 minutes later.

The visitors grew in confidence and scored the only goal in the 70th minute when Maddie Sawyer drove a low shot past Morris from 12 yards from a Charley Evans’ pass.

Despite the improved performance United were susceptible to the long ball counter attack that needed Nicole Haines to save several times at the feet of advancing Flyers’ players and having to defend an indirect free-kick 13 yards from the goal line following being penalised for a back pass with a quarter of hour remaining.

As the game advanced to the closing stages, the home team’s threat diminished, allowing United to take the points and guarantee at least second place in the qualifying group and a home tie in the quarter finals.

  • IN the Thames Valley Counties Women's League, Barton Royals won 1-0 at Flackwell Heath.

The visitors showed no fear of a side placed three spots above them in the table, and Gemma Sims scored the only goal of the game in the first half to secure the victory.

  • NEWBURY Ladies came from behind to share the spoils 1-1 in their final Premier Division fixture of the the Southern Region Women’s League season against New Milton.

The visitors took the lead with a clinical finish midway through the first half, but substitute Gemma Burnett was able to clip a shot with the outside of her right boot, back across the goalkeeper and into the net for a Newbury equaliser on 50 minutes.