And breath. A final evening of the Combined Counties League Division One season came to its conclusion with Woodley United staying up and Windsor relegated.
A 2024/25 Berkshire Great Escape is in the record books after Woodley United – who spent 18 of the 44 match days at the bottom of the table – won four of their last five matches to clamber above the dotted line.
On the night, it was win or bust for the Kestrels with an eye on Berkshire neighbours Windsor who would stay up instead of Woodley with a win themselves.
They played Eversley & California who themselves were vying for preferential treatment in the play-offs and were 2-0 down at the same time as Woodley were 2-0 up at home to Oxhey Jets.
So far, so straightforward. For Woodley manager Jordan Blake this was a dream scenario. Feet up, think about the beach.
Windsor had other ideas, Avtandili Akhsiashvili pulled one back for Windsor on 39 minutes just as Dylan Clark made it 3-1 Woodley in first half injury time. You started to wonder whether Woodley would be able to score the additional nine or so goals they’d need to overturn goal difference if Windsor won.
Woodley’s Ty Moorcroft certainly gave it a go in the second half as his brace matched Clark’s in the first half – Clark’s coming either side of a George Day strike – as Woodley posted a 5-0 win and looked safe.
Then, news filtered through in injury time that Windsor had drawn level through Liam Jenkins. They needed a goal to stay up and doom Woodley, but the calm that followed news the final whistle had blown was palpable. Woodley’s players gathered in a huddle post game with the manager, it was only upon entering the dressing room some five minutes later the relief erupted.
So Windsor are relegated, but it would seem in a favourable position to be granted a reprieve on Points Per Game having only dropped into the bottom three on the final day of the season. For Woodley, a chance to plan with certainty for 2025/26.
