Once again it was a line-up bereft of any 2nd years & completely made up of Under 17 & 16 boys, including goalkeeper, Adam Dawson, making his Under 18 debut.

Jack Severy had the first chance of the game when he latched onto Jennings’ pass & was only denied by a fantastic close-range save from the home keeper.

It was the home team who took the lead after 12 minutes as Dawson made the worst possible start to Under 18 football, letting a 25 yard free-kick slip through his fingers & into the back of his net. However Woodbridge were back on level terms within 2 minutes as Ryan Stafford ran at the Leiston defence before sliding a pass to Danny Tatum, who showed outstanding ability & composure to dummy the last defender & delay his pass until CRAIG JENNINGS arrived alone at the far post to tap in.

The remainder of the half saw both team attempt to pass the ball, but defences remained largely on top with the only other clear chance coming in front of the Woodbridge goal, but captain, David Kempson, made a vital block.

Mehmet Duzgun, playing against his old team, fired narrowly wide from 25 yards as Woodbridge came out quickest in the 2nd half. Woodbridge thought they had taken the lead when Jennings had what looked like a perfectly timed run, ruled ‘offside’ & moments later Severy looked certain to head in only for a last-gasp clearance from a Leiston defender. Severy then tricked his way past 3 tackles in the penalty area, but lifted his shot too high as Woodbridge continued to look like breaking the deadlock.

The all-important goal came on 72 minutes, & in typical Woodbridge fashion it began at the back with Under 16 duo Adam Dawson & Jack Garnham exchanging 4 passes in their own penalty area before Dawson switched the play to Kempson, who in turn released CRAIG JENNINGS with a delightful 50 yard pass right into his path & Jennings scored with ease.

Having produced an excellent display of football since half-time, the goal was the least that Woodbridge deserved, but while they created two chances to extend their lead through Ashley Holmes & Severy, they came under pressure in the final 15 minutes & Dawson more than made amends for his early mistake as he made a reaction save down low to his right, clawed another shot out of his top corner & deep into injury time came through a mass of bodies to punch away a free-kick to see Woodbridge to the final whistle.

Team: Dawson, Fulker, Hood-Wright (Holmes 62), Wright, Ambrose, Kempson, Duzgun (J. Garnham 62), Stafford, Jennings, Tatum & Severy.

On Tuesday, Woodbridge Under 18 players, under the SETEC banner at Copleston Sports College defeated league leaders, Northgate High School, 4-1, courtesy of goals from David Kempson (2), Sean Rea & James Fulker.

Next Thursday, the Under 18s are at Ipswich Wanderers (7.45pm kick off) but before then the Eastern Junior Alliance team play host to Heybridge Swifts at Notcutts on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick off).