Athletic entertained Thorne’s Windmill at West Park in the first round of this year’s Goole and Thorne cup. A cautious approach was taken from Woodlands against a Throne team who were an unknown entity.
It was a confident start from the home side with Nick Evans being afforded a lot of space on the right wing and being allowed to put some dangerous crosses into the box. One such move led to the first chance, a 40 yard cross field ball from Sharphouse found Evans who played through Heywood whose shot was straight at the keeper; the ball then fell to Wheldrake who squared it back for Heywood but he could only put the ball over the bar from 6 yards in front of an open goal.
First blood went to the visitors when Costello clearance hit Kinghorn and put the Windmill striker through one on one with keeper Munday who had no chance to save an excellent shot. The lead lasted all but 5 minutes when Woodlands were awarded a penalty when Caldwell was fouled in the box. He slotted the ball into the right corner to draw the team’s level. Woodlands began to knock the ball about well with the midfield trio of Sharphouse, Caldwell and Butler linking up beautifully. Woodlands took the lead on 35 minutes when Heywood pulled the ball back to the edge of the area where Caldwell was waiting to dispatch a right foot shot beyond the Thorne keeper. 2-1 to Athletic at half time.
Athletic started the second half the way they finished the first and the magnificent Caldwell made it 3-1 and completed his hat trick with less than 10 minutes gone. A goal kick won in the air by Butler found its way to Chappell who played the ball into the path of the goal scorer who took on a Windmill defender before slotting past the keeper. Caldwell then almost turned provider when a 40 yard ball found Heywood who volleyed first time from 18 yards out but only hit the post with the keeper beaten. A corner was also headed onto the bar by Chappell. Woodlands looking like they were going to run riot made a double substitution Evans for young and Chappell for Stephenson. The latter made an immediate impact scoring his first goal for the club in style when he latched onto a through ball from Sharphouse and rifled it into the top corner. Heywood got in on the act when Caldwell squared the ball for him to hit first time into the back of the net. Windmill scored a free kick which had deflected off the wall leaving Munday wrong footed before Stephenson wrapped things up with a tap in.
A score line that could have easily of been double figures on a different day but a great performance from a Woodlands side beginning to take shape. Man of the match was hat trick hero Luke Caldwell.
Next week Woodlands play NUR away at Kent Road in the league. Players to meet at the Woodlands at 9.30.
Woodlands Athletic would like to thank Keith and the staff for their continued support.
