Woodley United face season defining fortnight in Combined Counties League promotion race

Woodley United have been one of the surprise packages of the season.

The Reading-based side have spent the season competing at the top end of the Combined Counties League Division One table and currently sit in fifth place, occupying the final playoff spot.

This season’s elevated position is particularly impressive when you consider that the Kestrels finished the 2024/25 season in 20th place, one point and one position outside the bottom three.

Their promotion credentials are set to be tested over the next fortnight as they face the four teams above them in consecutive league games over 11 days.

Starting on Tuesday night Woodley welcome top of the table Bedfont to The Rivermoor, before they face fourth placed PFC Victoria and second placed Brook House in consecutive away trips on Saturday 7th and Tuesday 10th. The challenging run is rounded out with a home game against third placed Penn & Tylers Green on Saturday 14th March.

In the reverse fixtures against the four sides earlier in the season Woodley bagged eight points, and a similar return would leave them in a strong position for the end-of-season run in, however since the turn of the year the Kestrels have only managed to take 10 points from seven league games, although they have only lost once in that time.

Only seven points cover the top five sides and Woodley have games in hand over most of the teams above them, but with the likes of London Samurai Rovers and Berks County ready to take advantage of any slip-up, the next four games will go a long way to deciding whether the Kestrels can be pushing for Step 5 football next season.

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