Woodlands Athletic crashed out of the Frank Cawthorne Cup at the first hurdle on Sunday at a well attended South Park. As usual the heat was turned up shortly after an immaculately observed minutes silence for Gary Rawdon.
Whilst Woodlands were without a few first team regulars there can be no complaints at the final score with Barker proving to be a constant thorn in the away teams’ side. After a bright start Woodlands could have been in front but home side soon began to impose themselves on the game with some crisp passing and hard challenges. Jack Hewson continued in goal and he belied his youth again making some impressive saves to keep the scores level.
With the scores level and the home side continuing to press it was from a set piece that Woodlands were undone. A floating corner from the left was not dealt with and the ball ended up in the net from the hand of the keeper. It was a little harsh on him but fair on the home side.
As the Woodlands struggled to stay in the game things got worse when Butler was forced to retire early with a foot injury. This was compounded when Dave O’Donnell, was also forced off with injury. Woodlands came out and briefly threatened at the start of the half but normal service was soon restored. Collins and Jackson fought bravely and the extra dimension added by England did see a change in the pattern of the game but it was effectively over when Barker cutting inside of Cannon chased down a long ball and fired home an unstoppable shot to make it two nil. A third soon followed from the same man but this seemed to stir the away team into action.
With ten minutes to go, Jackson was pushed further forward and with caution thrown to the wind, managed to reduce the deficit. Further chances were to come and go but as the final whistle went so did the hopes of the new side. Heart can be taken from such a performance, especially the last ten minutes when an unlikely come back seemed a real possibility. Marshlands go into the hat for the next round whereas Woodlands have a tasty looking match up with the Cornerpin.
