Combined Counties Premier League side Ash Utd were the visitors to Cantley Park on Saturday.According to their Local Paper the visitors who start their league programme next Saturday were looking for a resounding victory to set them on their way. However they were in for a shock as the Cantley Park side were by far the better side leading 2 nil until the 80th minute. The opening exchanges saw the visitors threaten first with keeper Stuart Harris producing a fine save to deny Pym and then seconds later doing well to take a deep cross from Ash's best player Blason. However Wokingham were soon into their stride moving the ball around comfortably in midfield. The pace and strength of Richard Bland and Luke Lee worried the visitors defence all game. Wokingham should have taken the lead in the 12th minute when after good work by Bland set up Alex Luis but his effort from the edge of the area cleared the bar. At the other end Lydon fired just wide. Bland again caused havoc in the Ash defence crossing from the right he picked out the advancing Shaun Wanklyn, the ball spun off the defender and flew inches over the bar. Wanklyn made amends on the half hour when his deft through ball picked out Sam Duffelen who shrugged of a challenge before rounding visiting keeper Adlam to slott home. Both sides had let off's before the interval firstly Ash's Millard saw his header rebound off the post and Bland at the other end had Adlam scrambling across his goal to keep out his low effort.
Wokingham made four changes during the interval introducng Andre Stairmand, Chris Byrne, Jose Gomez and Richard Pilcher. The half started with Kirkpatrick being denied by an excellent Harris save, tipping the ball over the bar. Again the home side quickly found their rythmn and in the 54th minute Richard Bland deservedly increased the Wokingham lead.
Being released just inside the Ash half, last seasons leading scorer held off a challenge to race away before sliding the ball under the diving Adlam, from the edge of the area.
Poor defending gifted the visitors a lifeline in the 65th minute after having plenty of chances to clear they failed to do so with the ball falling to Blason and his effort from 20yards out gave Haris no chance. Wokingham however still created chances with Bland firing wide from a good position and the hard working Lee lobbed just over. With 10 minutes remaining the visitors levelled when a free kick out on the left was played short to Blason who crossed into the penalty area. Lydon stoped to glance his header past Harris, an equaliser that they hardly deserved. Wokingham almost regained the lead in the 87th minute when a Jack Broome effort from the angle of the area thumped against the post with Adlam well beaten. So a solid Wokingham performance against a side from a higher league shows that Wokingham certainly will be a threat in their own division this season.
Next Saturday the 8th August see's Wokingham & Emmbrook travel to near neighbours Binfield to contest ' The Martin Joyce Memorial Trophy '. Kick off 3 00pm. Then on Tuesday
11th August Wokingham commence their league programme when they entertain Penn & Tylers Green at Cantley Park. Kick off 6 30pm followed on Saturday 15th August with another home game against newly promoted Woodley Town. Kick off 3 00pm.