Woodley United face a decisive fortnight in the Combined Counties League – Football promotion race in Berkshire

Woodley United has been one of the surprise packages this season.

The Reading-based side have spent the season competing at the top of the Combined Nations League Division One table and currently sit in fifth position, occupying the final playoff spot.

This season’s improvement in position is particularly impressive considering the Kestrels finished the 2024/25 season in 20th position, one point and one position outside the bottom three.

Their promotion credentials will be tested over the next fortnight as they face four teams above them in consecutive league games over 11 days.

Starting on Tuesday evening Woodley welcome leaders Bedfont to The Rivermoor, before they face fourth placed PFC Victoria and second placed Brook House in successive away trips on Saturday 7th and Tuesday 10th. This challenging trip concludes with a home game against third placed Penn & Tylers Green on Saturday 14th March.

In their previous games against all four teams earlier in the season, Woodley bagged eight points, and a similar return would have put them in a strong position going into the end of the season, but since the turn of the year Kestrels have managed just 10 points from seven league games, despite losing just once in that time.

Only seven points cover the top five teams and Woodley have a game in hand over most of the teams above them, but with the likes of London Samurai Rovers and Berks County ready to capitalize on any mistakes, the next four games will go a long way to determining whether the Kestrels can push for Step 5 football next season.

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