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Williams' debut strike

Simon Smedley
19/12/2007

WOODLEY Sports moved up a place to 14th in UniBond Division One North thanks to a 1-1 home draw against fellow strugglers Rossendale United on Saturday.

After a midweek 5-0 thrashing at second-bottom Chorley, Chris Willcock’s Steelmen were seeking a welcome pick-me-up on a bitterly cold afternoon at Lambeth Grove.

Everything went according to plan for Woodley early on, and on 23 minutes new signing Gary Williams - an experienced former Doncaster Rovers and Accrington Stanley front-man - pounced to put the hosts in front.

The slender lead remained intact until stoppage time at the end of the game, when up stepped former Stalybridge Celtic hit-man Phil Eastwood to fire home sweetly as Rossendale secured a share of the spoils.

It was a cruel blow for Woodley, who were already without skipper Nick Boothby.

He suffered a nasty facial injury at Chorley last Tuesday and had to be stitched up at the local hospital.

A hectic Christmas period now beckons for Woodley, starting this Saturday when they travel to Bury’s Gigg Lane ground to take on high-flying FC United.

The Steelmen then return to Lambeth Grove for back-to-back home games.

On Boxing Day they host Skelmersdale United, then on Saturday, December 29, Woodley welcome Ossett Albion.

Both those home games kick off at 3pm.