Saturday 27th February 2010
Wokingham & Emmbrook 3, Faringdon Town 1,
Three second half goals eased Wokingham & Emmbrook into the hat for Semi Final of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup at Cantley Park last Saturday against North Berks high
fliers Faringdon Town. Manager Wayne Wanklyn was forced to shuffle his pack again with both Grant Lewin and Darren Thorne unavailable and Shaun Wankln and Billy Elgar picking up knocks against Henley the previous week. Wanklyn gave a debut to Mick Davies a striker who has netted 22 times in the A side this season, Davies lined up alongside
Richard Bland. Wokingham started well with Danny Horscroft testing Faringdon keeper Chris Webb early on. Davis almost got off to a perfect debut in only the 3rd minute after excellent work involving Bland and Nicky Bateman, the striker firing just over the bar from 8 yards out. The visitors did have the ball in the net in the 4th minute but was rightly ruled out for offside. Already were looking far more composed than the previous week, Wokingham were soon looking the more fluent side when the ball was on the ground. Wokingham
keeper Stuart Harris nearly got caught out trying to dribble his way out of trouble but recovered to clear. The visitors had a let off when Bland cut in from the left, slipping the ball to Davies who shot was blocked by Webb the ball rebounded to Ben Rice who saw his lob cleared off the line by John Lovegrove. I lost count how many times Wokingham had shots blocked and saved as they tried to break the deadlock. Horscroft and Bland both saw shot deflected out for corners. The first half corner count was 9 to 1 in favour of Wokingham.
The influential David Bellis in midfield with Rice were pulling the strings and at the back the central pairing of the impressive Neal Hanson and Chris Byrne were looking rock solid.
Across from Rice saw both Luke Lee and Davies go for the same ball and the chance passed. It was either a brilliant piece of judgment or good fortune when Harris left
Faringdon's Peter Soane's free kick, the ball ending up hitting the front of a post. A Bellis shot was parried away by Webb for a corner after a fine effort from Bland was saved.
Despite their good first half showing Wokingham had nothing to show for their efforts. It was the visitors who eventually took the lead against the run of play in the 48th minute. For the first time Wokingham were exposed at the back allowing Soane to poach a goal from close in. Steve Tranter back in the side after injury was forced to limp off to be replaced by Jack Broome in the 51st minute. This jolted Wokingham back into action and within seven minutes they were back level. Excellent work out on the right by Bland after being released by Bateman, cleverly turning his marker he crossed to the far post were Mick Davis fired high into the net from close in. The good football started to flow again as Wokingham continued to dominate. Rice shot on the turn only to see his effort blocked. However in the 74th minute he was rewarded with the goal of the game. With Wokingham superior fitness beginning to show in the wet conditions the ball broke to Rice fully 25 yards out, looking up he spotted Webb only a couple of yards off his line. His curled effort was sublime the ball going in just under the bar. With three minutes remaining Shane Cooper - Clark entered replacing debutant Mick Davis who can be relatively pleased with his overall performance. Within three minutes Cooper - Clark added his name to the score sheet with an extremely well taken goal. Bland again was the provider from the right. Picking out the young striker, Cooper - Clark controlled instantly side stepped his marker to drill the ball home low. An excellent finish. The remaining minutes saw Wokingham knock the ball around with great confidence and a semi final place assured. Next Saturday its back to league action when Didcot Town Reserves are the visitors to Cantle Park. Kick off 3 - 00pm. The first of 15 league fixtures to be play before Saturday 24th April. Wokingham are of course still in the Reading Senior Cup with a quarter final tie coming up in March. So with promotion still the main aim it is going to be a busy period ove the next eight weeks. After last weeks " No Comment " Manager Wanklyn was far more upbeat." After last weekend this was the response I was looking for against a side that pushed us all the way ". " I enjoyed the game that had plenty of good football, our attitude was spot on through out ". " I was pleased with Mick Davies's debut, he looked sharp and got into some good positions, at the back both Hanson and Byrne did well as did young Danny Horscroft out on the left ". " In all a pleasing performance and a semi final place , the first of two I hope ".
Team: Harris , Rice, Horscroft, Byrne, Tranter ( Broome ), Hanson, Lee, Bellis, Bland, Davis ( Cooper - Clark ) , Bateman.
Subs not used Luis & Harvey G/K.
ATTEN : 63.