Wounded Woodland Stay Alive against Antioch

Woodland FC Starting XI

The Royals did just enough to claim all 3 points against Antioch Rangers FC. This was the first ever meeting between the two clubs, and the Royals welcomed the newcomers to Stump Park with an early flurry of goals. Woodland still battling injuries and absences of crucial players, and have yet to play their ideal starting XI, have been proving their mettle time and again in the opening half of the season.

After winning a throw in early in the first half, Johnathan Young sent a long throw into the box that was flicked on by Maguire Hardin over the on-rushing keeper's head. Brett Jackson was there to tap-in for the lead after only 33 seconds had been played.

1-0

The rush wouldn't stop there. After pouncing on a poor touch by Antioch defender, Cole Sawyer, Chandler Givler saw a chance to race down the wing, send in a short cross to the cutting Jackson, who cleverly back-heeled into space for Sean Thomson from midfield. Thomson, playing in his first match back since injury in week 3, put his laces through the ball, driving a lawn-mowing shot into the bottom left corner to give the Royals a 2-0 lead after just 4 minutes played.

2-0

Moments later, Antioch would find their rebuttal. Stevie Hodes did well to intercept a pass in the neutral third of the field, initiating the Antioch counter-attack. Kaleb Fannin would then dribble past 2 defenders, slicing his way through midfield, and delivering a cross to the feet of Danile Martinez who fired into the roof of the net.

2-1

Things would come to a stalemate for the rest of the half until Maguire Hardin stopped an Antioch attack through a powerful block tackle, picked up the ball, and fired an excellent through ball over the top to Federico Verlicchi who had beaten the offside trap. Verlicchi calmly slotted home right on the stroke of halftime to give Woodland a massive 3-1 lead, and change the complexion of the match entirely going into the break.

3-1

Halftime

It would be Antioch who came out of the half firing first. Maguire Hardin tripped Kaleb Fannin just outside the box, giving Antioch a free kick just 20-yards out of the goal. Daniel Martinez would uncork a rasper of an effort that was too hot for Luke Heaton to handle, and bulged the back of the net.

3-2

Halftime substitute Spencer Bone, making his home debut, and returning from injury himself, found himself in the right place at the right time. A loose ball was picked up by another 2nd half sub, Anthony Pleitez, who fought through traffic to slide a pass to Bone just inside the penalty box. Bone put his foot through it and smashed it home to restore the 2-goal lead.

4-2

Antioch would not let things be. After a long ball following an Antioch free kick, Kaleb Fannin latched onto a flicked on ball by forward Chris Martin, rounded the defender, rounded the keeper, and rolled it in to give Antioch a chance at some points with just under 2 minutes to play.

4-3

Woodland would get some chances late, but more importantly, they salted the game away to prevent the late comeback, and preserve all 3 points. A huge result as they seek to catch Olathe United in first place. This result keeps Woodland in 2nd-place, 5 points adrift of Olathe. The Royals travel to St. Pius X High School to take on 3rd place Liberty FC in a crucial match for both teams in the title race. The match will be Saturday, 5-17-2025, at 6pm.

You can watch the replay of this match here on our club Youtube channel.

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