Woodbridge stay top as Ray notches two in win over Little Oakley

Ryan Keeble puts the Woodpeckers in front with a fine turn and finish. Photo: PAUL LEECH (Image: Paul Leech)

Woodbridge Town’s leading scorer Mark Ray scored twice to consolidate the Woodpeckers three-point lead at the top of the table against a very defensive away side who scored from their only corner of the game, writes John Middleditch.

Carlos Edwards’ pass after just four minutes was headed wide by Ray, and Ben Garnham’s shot was well held by away keeper Luke Tynan after 10 minutes.

Woodbridge had started strongly, although Stuart Polly’s effort went over the bar after 21 minutes after a rare away attack.

‘Peckers skipper Alex Greggor’s accurate corner was headed goalwards by Ray but the away defence cleared off the line after 25 minutes and a minute later Ray’s shot was again deflected for a corner.

Ryan Keeble’s cross was well saved by Tynan after 31 minutes and his shot on target was blocked by away defender Shaun Kiouisis for a corner after 39 minutes.

The home side were in the ascendency and took the lead after 42 minutes when Keeble’s shot from 15 yards gave Tynan no chance.

Ray superbly beat three away defenders to double the home side’s lead after 48 minutes when he beat Tynan to make it 2-0.

Matt Mackenzie was fouled inside the penalty and Ray stepped up to score his second as he planted his spot-kick into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-0.

It was game over and Edwards’ cross after 58 minutes was headed wide by Ray and from substitute James Hubbard’s pass, Mackenzie’s effort went wide of the post after 73 minutes.

Hubbard’s shot just missed the target after 79 minutes and a minute later Edwards’ cross was met by Baden Holmes but his shot went over the bar.

The Essex side did pull a goal back after 84 minutes when substitute Mark Palmer’s shot from close-range made it 3-1.

But Woodbridge went straight up the other end and Mackenzie made it 4-1 after 87 minutes with an excellent finish.

This was another important win for the Woodpeckers as they stay top of Thurlow One, with Edwards in particular in midfield passing the ball superbly throughout the game.