Goals from Charlie Oakley, Josh Drew and Liam Wilson sealed promotion for a delighted Woodley United on Monday night at Scours Lane as Michael Herbert’s side secured the point they needed to finish second in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 East.
United beat Chinnor 3-0 in their penultimate league game of the season and have a chance for a league and cup double in a season made all the more remarkable with the knowledge that the side have finished bottom of the league twice in the last three seasons.
Herbert’s side have become a force over 25 league matches this season and have contributed to some of the most read stories in FootballinBracknell’s first full season with their brilliant musical forfeit videos including the unbelievable Justin Bieber story that ended up on the Daily Mirror website and you can read here, and watch here:
And while it is hard to see leaders Penn & Tylers Green dropping points in their final two games, Woodley can still finish top of the pile.
Related: Here’s what the Hellenic Premier Division might look like for season 2017/18
The league title?
If it wasn’t for a little bit of a blip that included a high-scoring defeat to Wokingham & Emmbrook, United could already be sitting pretty at the top of the table.
They are responsible for one of the two defeats suffered by Penn in the league this season but missed a chance to exert their dominance with a 1-0 defeat to the champions elect in the reverse fixture.
Wokingham did do Woodley United a favour though, beating Penn 1-0 themselves and ensuring both sides are tied at the top of the table on 60 points.
Penn though have two games in hand over Woodley and a massive goal difference meaning they’d need to lose and draw those final two fixtures for the Kestrels to stand a chance – still stranger things have happened, just ask any Bracknell Town fan.
Final League fixtures for both sides in date order
- Penn & Tylers Green vs Chalfont Wasps
- Headington Amateur’s vs Penn & Tylers Green
- Woodley United vs Chalfont Wasps
Cup demands
If that seems a little bit of a stretch – though as we say stranger things have happened – United have a better chance of lifting the Berks & Bucks County Intermediate Cup when they face Thames Valley Premier Division leaders Marlow United at Larges Lane.
Marlow play in a division below Woodley but will be no mugs despite that gap having played in the Hellenic League for four seasons between 2006 and 2011 reaching the Premier in the process before dropping back to step 7.
Marlow have a massive goal difference themselves in the league but will be likely pipped to the title by Reading YMCA who are level on points and have two games in hand.
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