FA Cup Preliminary Round Woodbridge Town 5 Hadleigh United 1 Woodbridge recovered from the shock of being a goal down after only 32 seconds to run out convincing winners, securing £2,890 in prize money and sending the majority of the 189 spectators home happy, writes Dave Meeson.
Problems with injuries led to Peckers’ manager Jamie Scales being forced to make a comeback in midfield. However, it was another veteran, Carlos Edwards, who stole the show for the home side with two goals, an assist and some quality passing throughout.
The experienced Danny Thrower grabbed the early goal for Hadleigh when he expertly controlled a through ball before curling home an exquisite strike into the top corner from 20 yards.
The visitors could have gone further ahead shortly afterwards as Thrower had a powerful effort tipped over by Woodbridge keeper Alfie Stronge and then Kyle Cassell broke clear only for his effort to be hacked to safety.
Woodbridge gradually came into the game and equalized on 20 minutes after a clever flick by George Bowman played in Aaron Churchyard and, when his shot was partially saved by Nick Punter, it was Matt Mackenzie who was on hand to prod the ball home.
The hosts went in front just before the half hour as keeper Stronge sent an inch-perfect clearance into the path of winger Callum Sinclair, who showed great first-time control before rounding the keeper to score.
It was 3-1 on the stroke of half-time when Sinclair delivered another fine ball into the box and Edwards calmly out-foxed Punter before finishing into the empty net.
Hadleigh still appeared to be shell-shocked at the start of the second period as Bowman cracked a powerful drive against a post before Edwards got behind the visitors’ defence and squared to Mackenzie to make it four.
The Brettsiders pushed forward as they tried to salvage something from the tie. However, Woodbridge broke with Sinclair playing in Edwards, and the former Ipswich Town man raced away to make it five on 68 minutes.
Hadleigh were still dangerous and Stronge made fine stops to deny both Cassell and Tom Driscoll, though Woodbridge could have added a sixth late on when substitute Josh Leech headed wide after more great play from Edwards.
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