GOAL-SHY Woodley United found their shooting boots on Saturday afternoon as they beat fellow strugglers Ascot United 3-1 at the Racecourse Ground.

The first real action of a slow-paced opening half arrived when Woodley’s Danny Horscroft headed over Nathaneal Robinson’s free-kick on 23 minutes, but his side led on 27 minutes when Jayden Englefield showed great skill to beat two Ascot defenders on the right wing before firing into the bottom right hand corner with a low left-footed effort.

With regular goalkeeper Lee Allen unable to start after dropping a tin of paint onto his hand during the week, it was Robinson who added gloss to the scoreline barely a minute later with a thunderous effort that beat Tim Amoui from outside the area.

That goal partly roused the home side, for whom George Lock spun clear of a defender and shot at Alex Reed, before Rob Lazarczuk’s rasping volley was palmed away moments later.

However, they were reliant on an own goal from defender Mitch Cooper for a lifeline; he could only head Lock’s cross past Reed under pressure from Cameron Gyeabour with 31 minutes played, reducing the arrears.

Gyeabour might have levelled matters before half time but his lob from a difficult angle sailed over, and Woodley led 2-1 at the break.

The hosts made two changes at half time with James Goodey and Aaron Ross entering the action, but it was Woodley who would take control of the game and create most of the remaining chances.

Sam Boultwood was well placed to block Englefield’s goal-bound shot after Amoui had spilled a 52nd-minute cross, but Woodley added a crucial third after 59 minutes when Jake Nicholls, pictured left, followed up Robinson’s free kick – which had struck the outside of the angle of the crossbar and left hand post – to slot home from a tight angle.

Amoui tipped over another Robinson free kick after 66 minutes before Reed made a smart save, diving down low to his right to deny Lock at the other end, but Woodley finished more strongly and substitute Carl Prestidge somehow dragged wide when well placed before setting up fellow substitute Greg Beckett three minutes from time; Amoui this time making a good save to deny the visitors a fourth.

Woodley leapfrogged Ascot into 17th, with Ascot precariously placed in 18th having played more games than those immediately above them.

The Yellamen had previously stunned high-flying Bracknell Town 2-0 last Tuesday.

Seb Bowerman missed a 37th-minute penalty for the visiting Robins, and Gyeabour – on debut – put Ascot in front as the game entered its final quarter.

Lazarczuk was sent off for a poor challenge to put the Yellamen under further pressure, but Gyeabour added a second on 85 minutes to seal a stunning triumph.

Ascot United visit Wallingford Town in the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup on Saturday (3pm).