| Sat 27th Feb 2010 - Wokingham & Emmbrook 3-1 1st Team - 1/4 Final B&B Int Cup |
| The Don travelled sixty miles along the M4 to Wokingham & Emmbrook in the 1/4 Final of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup. All of Town's pre match planning was thrown into disarray before we had stepped foot onto the minibus, when midfielder Martin Francis failed to show, causing the squad to leave late. They then endured Morbey's Mystery Tour of Wokingham's one way system and we finally arrived 20 minutes before kick off. The hosts were clear favourites having lost only once in the Hellenic Division One East and sitting at the top of the table. in the opening minutes Town keeper Chris Webb had to make a save from a deflected shot, which was cleared to safety and moments later two poor Town clearances weren't taken advantage of and the striker volleyed over from 8 yards. Town's first attack saw them have the ball in the back of the net when Matthew Pill's cross found Dan Courtney at the far post who bundled the ball home, however the officials flag was raised for a dubious offside decision and the goal cancelled. Almost immediately Martyn Hathaway pressured the keeper when receiving a back pass which saw a hasty clearance for a corner. Webb was then again in the action when he saved twice from the lively number 9 striker who John Lovegrove did well to keep contained during the afternoon. Just after the half hour, Town struck the post when the keeper let Pete Soane's free kick hit the outside of the post, and then as the half came to an end, Derren Harrington shot from 20 yards over the bar after a good passing Town move. Town hadn't played well, but were clearly still in the match and they knew that they had a good chance to progress to the semi finals. They then got the perfect start to the second period when Hathaway out stripped the left back and pulled the ball back to top scorer Pete Soane, who drew the ball to his left foot and curled the ball home into the corner of the net to send the handful of travelling supporters wild and the home crowd silent. This kick started Wokingham and for the remainder of the half they overloaded Town's left hand side and on 54 minutes they equalised when the striker drew Webb forward and his cross shot was put away at the far post by the number 10 for 1-1. On the hour Webb pulled off another great save and Town's problems got worse when midfielder Stuart Wright had to leave the match with a reoccurrance of a knee problem and was replaced by striker Brian Ferris. Then on 73 minutes the hosts took advantage of their ascendancy with a superb curling effort over Webb for a 2-1 lead. Town then lost full back Pill to injury which saw another striker enter the play in Rich Evans and Courtney filling in at fullback. Town pushed men forward and with 10 minutes remaining The Don almost levelled when Darryl Curtis crossed into the area which caused confusion within the home defence and a Wokingham player headed the ball just wide of his own goal. With time then running out and the hosts rightly holding the ball into the corners they did brake through for the ball to be pulled back to the substitute striker to calmly slot past Webb with almost the last kick of the match. Town can take heart from this performance against a side which is likely to be playing two levels above The Don next season. Town now face an equally difficult task with Saxton Rovers the visitors in the quarter finals of the Charity Shield. A thank you to Wokingham & Emmbrook FC who were welcoming hosts, which The Don squad, management and supporters made full use of their facilities. Squad: C Webb, J Lovegrove, G Sutton(c), A Sly, M Pill (sub 73mins R Evans), S Wright(sub 65mins B Ferris), D Harrington, D Curtis, P Soane, D Courtney, M Hathaway. MOM: J Lovegrove Goalscorer: P Soane 47mins |