Can Woodley United win it? – Football in Berkshire

For the second time in 10 years, we look at the real prospect of Woodley United becoming a Step 5 team.

The only difference between leaders Kestrels and Combined Counties League Division One leaders Brook House was a drawn game, in which Woodley had nine and Brook House three.

In fact, the team formerly known as AFC Hayes before returning to its original pub name in 2022, has lost more games than Woodley this season.

But that’s not the real story. It’s Jordan Blake’s side that is front and center in this piece, for a very different reason. You may remember last season United were named the ‘Great Escape’ team, and perhaps their team was greater than the Binfield team of the previous season.

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Having been in the relegation zone all season – and I mean all season thanks to the basic beauty of alphabetical order before a ball is kicked – Woodley emerged above the line making the bottom three of the table on the final day of the season after a 5-0 win over Oxhey Jets at Scours Lane.

This ‘escape’ is proof that the manager and the club are keeping their nerve, and the results are for all to see this season. Without one of the stars of the 2025/26 season – Ty Moorcroft – Woodley remains a young team that started the season going 18 games without defeat. The first league defeat came on Tuesday 11 November at home to Molesey. It is the side that is greater than the sum of its parts.

There have only been two more losses since then, meaning Woodley, with a game in hand the teams around them look likely to earn at least a play-off spot at the end of the season. The key for the Kestrels this time is the spread of goals across the team, with only Troy Williams scoring in double figures, while also having the most ruthless defense in the division, conceding just 34 times.

The away game to Brook House on Tuesday March 10 could be a crucial game in determining whether Blake’s side have a chance of going one better and taking the title.

Combined Nations League Division One final table predictions – by FootballWebPages

In terms of playoff contenders, realistically, those who have a chance are second through seventh, and that includes Berks County, even though they have played more games than the teams around them.

Bedfont (67 points), PFC Victoria London (66), Woodley (63), London Samurai Rovers (63), Penn & Tylers Green (62 – but two games in hand) and Berks (58) are all vying for a top-five spot.

Mick Woodham’s first season in charge at Langley is likely to produce a solid mid-table finish for the Slough-based side. It’s unlikely that the experienced boss as we know him will spend too much time looking down the table, but two more points would at least match the total that kept Woodley ahead (43) on the final day of last season, so you’d hope it continues and continues to improve.

Talking about bottom of the standings, nothing has been confirmed there yet and we could see him drop again. The demise of Chalfont St Peter was sad but the underground side has shown some life of late.

Once a strong Isthmian League side, the Saints were in Division One in the early 1990s (when the competition had four divisions) and as recently as 2022, but they have been relegated through the divisions and county league football looks increasingly likely despite picking up a few wins either side of Christmas.

Recent results have boosted Sandhurst Town’s survival hopes – they are now 18th with 28 points in the bag. The Fizzers, along with Spartans Youth (25th), Spelthorne Sports (24th), FC Deportivo Galicia (22nd) and Rising Ballers Kensington (16th but with two games in hand) all have a lot of work to do.

Do you agree with the prediction table? Let us know in the comments below.