Classy Woodward praised by Carter... Portchester held

The Copnor club paid the price for a hugely below par first-half performance and were lucky to go in at the break trailing by just two goals.

It was a vastly different home side in the second half and two Dan Woodward goals, one from the penalty spot completed the fightback.

‘A draw was a fair result in the end, though we could easily have ended up winning,’ said Moneyfields manager Dave Carter.

‘Our first-half performance was very flat and we conceded two sloppy goals.

‘The players were given a bit of a talking to at half-time because they had been nowhere near good enough.

‘It was disappointing because it was almost the same team that showed they were different class in our 2-0 win over Sholing.

‘Maybe because we beat Newport 3-0 at their place last Saturday the players thought it was going to be easy.

‘It never works out like that.

‘I thought we came out and bossed the second half though and deserved our goals.’

The home side made the worst possible start, falling behind after only five minutes.

With the home defence caught sleeping Darren Powell rose to glide home a pin-point header.

On 21 minutes young home goalkeeper Joe Hunt could only help an inswinging corner into his own net.

Woodward got Moneyfields back into the game 12 minutes into the second half with an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

With three minutes left Nathan Paxton was hauled down inside the area and Woodward drove in his spot-kick.

‘I thought Dan Woodward was fantastic for us,’ said Carter.

He is such a talented player and playing two levels below where he should be.

‘His name will be the first on the signing-on contracts for next season.’

AFC Portchester had to settle for a 1-1 draw at lowly Bournemouth Poppies.

Curt Robbins gave the Royals a first-half lead but on 73 minutes a long-range free-kick levelled it up.

The games between Fareham Town and Bemerton Heath Harlequins and Horndean versus Brockenhurst were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

In Wessex League division one, United Services beat Totton & Eling 2-1 at Burnaby Road.