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                           Wokingham & Emmbrook 2, Henley Town 2

                                      Saturday 20th February 2010

Wokingham & Emmbrook turned in probably their poorest performance of the season against near neighbours Henley Town at Cantley Park on Saturday. As the final whistle sounded with Wokingham hanging on for a point , Manager Wayne Wanklyn was so incensed with his sides overall display ,when approached his response was a firm "No comment ". In truth Wokingham haven't produced the fluency shown since their return to action after the six week lay off due to the adverse weather conditions over Christmas.

With the opening forty five minutes proving an even affair the second half certainly belonged to the visitors. Saying that with Wokingham leading 2 - 1 they should have put this game to bed with leading scorer Richard Bland missing two guilt edge chances after the break, at 4 -1 it would surely been game over. Failure to do so let the visitors in and at 90 minutes they could quite easily have left with all three points. Desperate Wokingham defending and poor finishing let them off the hook. Both sides were slowly into their stride as Wokingham looked to take an early advantage, a long ball over the top from Shaun Wanklyn was just to long for Bland. From a free kick taken by Alex Luis short to Nick Bateman , Bateman's cross forced Henley keeper Lee Johnson to punch the ball to safety under pressure from Shane Cooper  - Clarke. Wokingham broke the deadlock in the 11th minute

when Bland lost possession and then won it back, cleverly he went between Cohen Benn and Mark Bartley before picking out Shane Cooper - Clarke just inside the area, the young striker controlled before drilling his shot low into the corner of the net. The goal rattled the visitors and both Graeme Toomey and Adam Cashin - Murray picked up Yellow cards for challenges on both Bland and Billy Elgar. The visitors hit back in the 20th minute when a foul on Ex Wokingham winger Kylo Atkinson out on the right was awarded. Diak John's

cross was played in high, Wokingham keeper Stuart Harris came to collect but Brett Rann rose in front of him to glance a header over the advancing keeper into the net. Four minutes later Wokingham were back in front. The visitors failed to defended Alex Luis's corner from the right, with the ball bouncing loose in the six yard area Central defender Neal Hanson forced the ball over the line from close in. Wokingham should have increased their lead two minutes later after a good build up involving Bateman, Jack Broome and David Bellis again poor defending allowed the home side the chance but Bland's effort hit the bar from a good position. At the other end Alex Allen fired high over the bar. Although playing some decent football the visitors were rarely threatening at this stage. A coming together between Henley's John and Wanklyn resulted with both picking up Yellow cards where a talking too would have probably have sufficed. The half ended with Bateman releasing Bland who fired into the side netting and then the midfielder failed to pick out Cooper - Clarke who had taken up a great position unmarked. The second period started with Bellis setting off on a strong run through the centre, slipping the ball through to Cooper - Clarke who gotinto the area, Henley keeper spread well to deny the young striker his second goal of the game. Wokingham's Bland then had two quick chances to surely seal victory for the home side after being set up by Bateman. Firstly in on goal, his lack of composure saw him fire high and wide from an excellent position and then again from close in failed to hit the target. The failure to take the chances seemed to lift the visitors who slowly began to force Wokingham deeper and deeper. From a free kick taken in the 50th minute by John the ball skimmed the top of the crossbar. Alex Walton replaced Darren Thorne in the 52 minute. Jack Broome moved into the centre of defence with Walton slotting in at right back. The visitors substitution with Dan Paiser replacing Alex Allen seemed to give Henley more impetuous in midfield. Being driven back Wokingham were becoming less of a threat going forward. With the midfield being forced back when they did break the front two had very little support and were forced to go it alone. Paiser and Atkinson combined to set up another Ex Wokingham player Sam Whiting up at the far post but he failed to punish an overworked defence. Whiting who at last was beginning to get into the game forced Harris to make a good save low down, the ball broke loose and Chris Byrne who had replaced the influential David Bellis who had received a kick in the mouth, after at least five minutes of treatment the bleeding couldn't be contained and Wanklyn was forced to make the change cleared from just in front of the line. The pressure was building, Harris again saved this time from Rann conceding a corner from which Paiser glanced a header just over the bar. You could sense that Henley still had a goal in them and it was just a matter of time before they scored and this proved right when they deservedly levelled in the 90th minute. Winning a corner the ball was played in the Wokingham defence failed to react as the ball dropped Brett Rann was on hand to fire home for his and Henley's second of the afternoon. With injury time still to play for the Bellis injury, the crowd of 110 mainly home supporters became nervous as it was the visitors who looked the more likely winners at this stage. Luke Lee replaced Cooper - Clarke for the final minutes, Wokingham had a couple of breaks that came to nothing while Whiting and Rann missed chances at the other end. In the end it was the home side who were glad to hear the final whistle. I think possibly a few home truths were spelt out in the dressing room after the game. This coming Saturday it is back to cup action with Wokingham & Emmbook entertaining Faringdon Town in the Quarter Final of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup. Kick off  1 - 30pm. Then on Tuesday 2nd March Wokingham travel to Henley Town in the league. Kick Off 7 - 30pm.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a much improved performance by the Cantley Park side.

Team : Harris, Broome, Luis, Thorne ( Walton ), Wanklyn, Hanson, Elgar, Bateman, Bland, Cooper - Clarke ( Lee ), Bellis ( Byrne ).

Not Used Lewin.