Manager Wayne Wanklyn priorities were there for all to see when naming the side to face Westwood Utd in the Becks & Bucks Intermediate Cup at Cantley Park Saturday. Wanklyn left six or seven players out of his starting line up who I am sure would have started if this would have been a league fixture. The two plus's to come out of an otherwise disappointing afternoon were that both leading scorer Richard Bland and Ben Rice returned after weeks out on the side recovering from injuries. The opening forty five minutes belonged totally to the visitors who found themselves 3 - 0 up with in the opening 26 minutes and had very little trouble achieving this. Wokingham looked totally out of salts as they struggled to get a foot hold in the game. The visitors looking composed bossed the midfield area and threatened on several occasions. There was an early scare in only the 4th minute when Ryan Kingsbeer fired into the side netting. The visitors took the lead in the 7th minute when the ball was pulled back to Kingsbeer just inside the area the wide player
drilled his shot past Wokingham keeper Kane Roberts. Worse was to follow 4 minutes later when from a free kick out on the left, Jason Wager crossed towards the near post where Ryan Adams got across the face of his marker to guide the ball home. Wokingham tried to respond but Rice's effort was tipped over over the bar by Kieran Lamb. Bland's pace took him round the back of the Westwood defence before crossing low, Shaun Watson dummied but Daren Thorne in a good position failed to hit the target. The game was virtually put out of the home sides reach in the 26th minute when Neil Hanson was harshly adjudged to have fouled Ashley Baynham again it was Wagner who delivered the ball in and this time Roberts failed to hold on to the ball and Ryam Adams was on hand to convert. Bland and Luke Lee combined to set up Rice but his well struck shot was deflected out for a corner from which Thorne headed just wide. Westwood's Ryan Willmott was lucky not have been carded for a terrible tackle on Rice , at least a yellow if not Red. Wokingham desperate to at least pull a goal back before the interval were rewarded in the 44th minute when from a corner Neil Hanson powered his header into the roof of the net from six yards out. Wanklyn's response was to make three changes during the break, introducing Dave Bellis, Sam Duffelen and Sam Whiting for Phil Mortimer, Watson and Thorne and from the restart Wokingham looked far better. Bellis and Duffelan at last gave Wokingham a say in the midfield area and the visitor were getting far less of the ball. Rice should have pulled another goal back in the 46th minute when Bellis and Bland combined, the letter's cross saw Rice time his run to perfection only to head over the bar unchallenged from only six yards out. It was game on in the 56th minute when Bland's persistence won possession a quick interchange saw Bland get the ball back and from the angle of the area the striker arrowed his low shot past Lamb and into the net. The visitors were now relying on counter attacks as Wokingham looked to level and take the tie into extra time at least. A Duffelen free kick had Lamb stretching to claim high up as Wokingham raised the anti. Whiting and Bland combined to set up Rice but a poor bounce forced Rice to fire high. A strong run from defender Grant Lewin, Wokingham's best player on show ended with him picking out Bland, who rounded his marker before seeing Lamb deny him his second goal of the afternoon with his legs. With time running out and Wokingham pressing, the visitors broke on the counter, the ball was played forward and Simon Rushe failed to deal with it allowing Adams to race clear and complete his hatrick and secure a place in the next round of the County Cup. Manager Wanklyn commented. " This competition was not top of the list in priority, being 2nd in the Division at the moment and still in the League cup are far higher ". " However this game let me have a look at several squad players who needed a run out, but it must be said that one or two of them didn't do themselves any favours and it answered a few questions for me ". " If you go 3 - 0 down in the opening twenty six minute you aren't going to win games ". Its back to league action this Saturday when Holyport are the visitors to Cantley Park. Kick off 3 -00pm. Like Wokingham they have had a good start to the season so this should be an exciting encounter.
Team : Roberts, Walton, Mortimer ( Duffelen ), Lewin, Hanson, Rushe , Lee , Thorne ( Bellis ), Bland , Watson ( Whiting ) , Rice. Not used : Wise
Wokingham & Emmbrook 3 Easington Sports 0
Saturday 27th September 2008
Wokingham & Emmbrook eased comfortably into the next round of The SBJ Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup with a convincing victory over their Division West opponents Easington Sports at Cantley Park on Saturday. It was a game that Wokingham dominated from start to finish, bar a couple of early scares. In an incident filled first half that saw both
sides reduced to ten men. Visiting Keeper John Okole was dismissed in the 14th minute for a handling offence outside his area and then in the 35th minute Shaun Wanklyn was shown a straight Red card for a wreckless challenge on Easington's Tom Mudge, Wanklyn going in high. This was capped by probably the most ludicrious decision I have ever witnessed in my 35 years of reporting. The ball was angled into the area from midway in the visitors half, Sam Whiting who went on to bag himself a brace, got between his markers to arrow his header towards substitute goalkeeper Danny Cockles right hand post, Cockle got down but could only manage to palm the ball onto the inside of the post before the ball crossed the line and ending up in the back of the net. Amazingly Referee's Assistant Tom Walton raised his flag. Referee Mr Simon Parbury ran across and after a lenghthy
discussion awarded a corner kick to Wokingham. How on earth can officials get a such a decision so wrong. If Mr Walton had got it wrong, surely the Referee who was in a perfect position could and should have overruled the decision. Surely if the ball enters the net it is a goal, not a corner. There is no chance for football if the officials can't define the difference between a goal and corner. However back to the game. Wokingham again started out brightly although the visitors tested Stuart Harris, back in goal after his recent illness. The visitors Danny Green was denied a strike after good defending from Neil Hanson. Wokingham then had two excellent chances within two minutes both failing to James Wise. Firstly after good work by Andre Stairmand and Whiting, Wise raced clear but shot straight at Okole and then Billy Elgar's through ball picked out the striker again but this time fired wide of the target. Then came the sending off of Okole. Danny Cockle then took over between the posts and looked extremely vunerable with was understandable.
As stated Wokingham should have gone ahead but for the farcical situation involving the official's. The decision seemed to unsettle the home side although chances were plentiful.
Sam Whiting was causing mayhem in the visitors half , they just couldn't handle him. He tormented them with his excellent control and silky skills. However it was Wise again who
was put free. With the keeper advancing Whiting had got up along side him, a square pass would have given Whiting a simple tap in, but Wise went for power and fired high over the bar. With less than a minute left to the interval, Whiting's skill gave Wokingham the interval lead they deserved. Turning one way and then the other he left three defenders for dead, racing into the area he unleashed a left foot shot that Cockle could only push up into the roof of the net. The home side tried to respond in the minutes remaining and Harris had to tip over from Paul Wright and David Bellis cleared off the line again from Wright.
The second half was all Wokingham as they seemed to open up the Easington defence at will. Wise again fired wide of the target and Whiting just failed to add to his tally. Wokingham's pressure payed off in the 53rd minute when Bellis threaded through an inch perfect pass into Whiting, he raced clear but again the keeper got his hand to it but couldn't keep it out. Bellis, Whiting and Wise all had chances to increase the lead. Shaun Watson replaced the hard working Wise in the 63rd minute, Watson another player was pace. Darren Thorne came on in the 71st minute for Stairmand and saw his effort just squirm past the upright. Thorne then after being set up by Nicky Bateman again just failed to convert. The final goal of the game came six minutes from time. Billy Elgar, who along with Whiting and Bellis impressed all afternoon fed the ball out to Watson, his pace got him to the byline, crossing low towards the near post Darren Thorne coming in squeezed the ball in at the foot of the post. So a good afternoon's work by the home side was rewarded with a victory that gives Wokingham a home tie in the next round against Hellenic Premier side Milton Utd, who beat Thame Utd 2 - 1. Assistant Roger Herridge
commented after the game. " This was a great result for us as Easington came here with an excellent reputation, laying 4th in their division and scoring plenty of goals in the proccess ". " I thought we started well but the disallowed goal upset us slightly, I have no complaints about Shaun's sending off, it was wreck less and he must learn from this ".
" I have said this many times to the players that we must start taking our chances, against good sides you might only get two or three and if you don't convert them the chances are you will get beaten, today we could quite easily approached double figures ". " But for the second week running we have kept a clean sheet and are in the next round ". " Finally I thought Sam Whiting was outstanding and their defence just couldn't handle him, and with a bit of luck could have bagged himself a hat trick, but the poor decision denied him ".
It's cup action again next Saturday when Wokingham start out in the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup with a home tie against Westwood Utd. Cantley Park Kick off 2 - 30pm.
" Their are probably half a dozen games a season where you have to dig in and scrap for the points, and this was certainly one of them ", commented Manager Wayne Wanklyn after his side got back to winning ways at Launton last Saturday. Although the home side are firmly rooted at the foot of the table, they had changed their Management team and
brought in five or six new players. Despite the scoreline the win was much more comfortable than the outcome suggests. Wokingham keeper Kane Roberts only had one save to make throughout the whole ninety minutes. On a terrible surface it was virtually impossible to get the ball down and play, and this didn't help Wokingham's cause, as they like to pass the ball around. It was the home side who had the early possession without threatening and neither side had an early scares. The only goal of the game came in the 16th minute when Wokingham were awarded a free kick on the left, 30 yards out. Sam Whiting angled the kick in high and James Wise rose unchallenged to head powerfully past home keeper Danny Clifford. Wokingham almost increased their lead five minutes later when Sam Duffelen's cross to the far post saw Billy Elgar time his run at the far post but his header went high and wide. The home sides first real chance didn't come until 24th minute when James Lisseter rose to meet a corner out on the left but the ball sailed high over the bar. A good run from Elgar set up Wise but the strikers effort from just outside the area flashed inches wide. Roberts only real save of the game came in the 30th minute but Lee Durrant's effort nestled comfortably nto the keepersd midrift. A good move started by Alex Walton saw a neat interchange on the edge of the area end with Wise's shot going wide.
The Home side made change during the interal with Paul Eldridge replacing Paul Anderson. Wokingham should have increased their lead early in the half when Shaun Wanklyn's
long ball released Wise down the middle, with Keeper Clifford advancing, Wise had two options, to lob the keeper, which he should have done but instead he went for power and Clifford spread himself to save. The home sides Nick Neal worked space out o the right and his cross bounced off the top of Roberts bar. Launton made a second change on the hour with Phil Ross replacing Stuart Drognale up front. The home side were now again having plenty of the ball but again never really threatening. The one thing that cost Wokingham more goals was their failure to beat the home sides offside trap, time and again they were caught. Another great chance came Wokingham's way in the 70th minute
when Sam Whiting cleverly skipped past two challenges before crossing low into the area where Wise saw his goal bound effort charged down and then the follow up go wide.
Manager Wanklyn then made who changes with Andre Stairmand and Shaun Watson replacing Wise and Whiting who had both worked hard, this in the 72nd minute. Minutes later Darren Thorne came on for Elgar. It was Stairmand who finally found a way of beating the offside trap racing clear of the chasing defence, with Thorne along side on the right and the keeper advancing all that was needed was a simple flick to the right, but Stairmand's pass was hopelessly over hit and the chance went begging. Wokingham's final chance came when Duffelen worked his way along the by line before picking out Thorne but again the effort failed to trouble Clifford. The remaining minutes saw the home side pressing forward but never looking like pulling the goal back that they needed to share the points. " I said to the players at half time that a battle was needed to get the result, and to their credit they did that ". " We should have won more comfortably and with the two one on wons against their keeper, we should have done better ". " A pleasing thing though was that for the first time this season we kept a clean sheet, with Shaun Wanklyn, Grant Lewin and Neil Hanson doing well ". Next Saturday Wokingham take a break from League action
when they entertain Easington Sports at Cantley Park, Kick off 3 00pm, in the League cup.
" We were poor from start to finish ". Were Manager Wayne Wanklyn's exact words on leaving the pitch after the 2 all draw against near neighbours Finchampstead. " We defended poorly throughout, and the midfield lacked quality and we certainly missed the pace of the injured Richard Bland up front ". " I now know we are lacking at the back, and I intend to address that problem as soon as possible". " We did have enough chances to win the game, hitting the woodwork three times in the second half but we would not have deserved the victory and a draw was probably fair ". " Darren Thorne should have scored in the first half, one on one with their keeper ". " Hopefully Bland will be back next week when we travel to Englefield Green Rovers ". It was a game of two halves with the visitors shading the first and Wokingham shading the second. The visitors had the first real chance but Tom Hopper fired across the face of goal. At the other end Sam Whiting's weakly struck free kick never really troubled finch keeper Nick Rumsby. With Whiting causing the visitors defence early problems, Phil Mortimer just failed to pick out the unmarked James Wise. Wokingham should have taken the lead in the 21st minute when after excellent work by Whiting, Darren Thorne was released through the centre, but with only the keeper to beat, Thorne hit it straight at Rumsby. At the other end Wokingham had a let off when from a free kick just outside the area, Kevin Prentice's effort rebounded off the crossbar straight to the waiting Dean Thomas bt the Ex Wokingham man fired high and wide. Another Prentice free kick picked out Bobby Hogg but again from a good position Hogg's header failed to hit the target. The visitors took the lead in the 31st minute when from a corner out on the left. Wokingham failed to clear the ball fell invitingly to Tom Hopper who drilled the ball in from close in. With Wokingham still struggling to get going the nearest they came to leveling was when Wise saw his well struck effort saved by Rumsby. It was no surprise that Wokingham made changes during the interval with England trialist David Bellis replacing Phil Mortimer and Andre Stairmand coming on for Darren Thorne. The inclusion of Bellis in midfield certainly improved things for the home side the shape looked a lot better. A good move from the back ended with Wise turning on the edge of the area, instead of hitting it first time, the young striker hesitated and the chance went. Wise nearly turned provider picking out Whiting but the wide players lob sailed over the bar. The visitors were now looking less of a threat going forward and the defence well marshalled by skipper Scott Bur sill were having to defend more. The spark needed to inspire Wokingham was still missing. It was Wokingham's turn to hit the wood work in the 65th minute when Wise saw his free kick cannon off the woodwork and finally cleared to safety. A minute later , Wise got another free kick and this time his curled effort, again just outside the area beat Rumsby high up to his right for the qualiser. Wise almost put the home side into the lead but Rumsby this timed his header onto the bar. At last it now looked as though Wokingham could go on to gain maximum points but the visitors defended manfully to keep them at bay. However with only a minute left on the clock Wokingham were caught out at the back whwn a long ball forward out of defence caught Neil Hanson the wrong side of Dean Thomas, Thomas raced clear, with keeper Doug Bond racing out Thomas just slotted the ball past the stranded keeper low into the net for what looked like the winner. However with the game well into stoppage time Wise layed the ball out wide to Andre Stairmand on the right. The wide man controlled before what was obviously meant as a cross looped over Rumsby and into the far side of the net. So with very little time left both sides had to settle for just a point. Probably about right on the afternoon. The return of Bland next week will surely give Wokingham the cutting edge needed to stay in contention at the top of the table. With Ascot Utd winning Wokngham were relegated into second spot.
Free scoring Wokingham & Emmbrook made it four wins out of four on Saturday against league newcomers South Kilburn at their new Cantley home. Once again an early strike after only five minutes sent them on their way. A good build up down the right ended with the ball being knocked into the danger area, Kilburn keeper Jaime Quinlan made a complete hash of it allowing the ball to squirm through his hands and Richard Bland was on hand to score from close in. A needless free kick was given away by Shaun Wanly for abusive language in the 26th minute. Referee Mr. BE.Spink warded a free kick to the visitors. The ball was played along side of the defensive wall for Scott Names to drill the ball home from an acute angle. A minute before this Wokingham lost leading scorer Richard Bland after a challenge from behind by Scott Gerrard, that went unpunished. Darren Thorne being the replacement. The visitors pace up front was causing the home defence all sorts of trouble. Several times they got in behind but failed to take advantage until the 35th minute. With the defence caught square Marcus Fearon raced clear to round keeper Doug Bond before slotting home. The interval came at just the right time allowing Manger Wanklyn to reorganize his side. Phil Mortimer replaced Simon Rushe at the back and this seemed to work from the restart, there was certainly a better shape to the side. At last Wokingham started to get the ball down and out pass their opponents. Five minutes into the second half Wokingham drew level. An excellent one touch move opened up the visitors defence with James Wise playing Darren Thorne in, racing clear the substitute kept his composure to beat Quinlan low down. The goal saw the home sides confidence return. The early threat from the visitors front two was far less in evidence. Wokingham went in front for the second time in the 65th minute. From a free kick played into the penalty area, the Referee spotted Wanklyns shirt being pulled. The same player stepped forward to fire powerfully home from the spot. Apart from a couple of long range efforts the visitors
rarely threatened keeper Bond. The game was finally made safe two minutes from time when from Andre Stairmand's corner Darren Thorne headed powerfully home from six yards out. This win keeps the Cantley based side top of the Division.
Wokingham & Emmbrook had to come from behind twice to maintain their 100% start to the new season at Penn on Tuesday evening. Both sides hit the woodwork during the opening exchanges. The home side were gifted the lead in the 8th minute when poor defending allowed Gavin Groves to score from close in. Things got worse for the visitors
on the half hour mark when Reno Sepede cut in on goal, keeper Doug Bond hesitated allowing the Penn striker to beat him low down. Two minutes later Wokingham pulled a goal back when from Sam Duffelen's corner James Wise headed powerfully home. Wokingham finished the half strongly but could conjure an equalizer. Wokingham started the second half on the front foot with Wise forcing home keeper John Harding to tip over the bar. The hard working Billy Elgar seemed to be everywhere breaking up attacks and using the ball intelligently. Wokingham eventually leveled in the 57th minute when from another Duffelen corner the ball fell to Shaun Wanklyn in the area. the central defender lashed the ball in from 15 yards out. The inexperience showed in Wokingham's young ranks when they allowed the home side to take a quick free kick. Reno Sepede again applied the finish. Wokingham had it all to do again. Looking the better side the visitors began to push forward relentlessly and were rewarded with a second leveler in the 75th minute. Elgar won possession deep in his own half before picking out Sam Whiting who in turn threaded the ball through to Richard Bland. Bland raced clear to round Harding to slot home.
It now looked as though Wokingham would have to settle for a point despite looking the better side and then with only seconds remaining Duffelen again swung in a corner that the home side failed to clear the ball eventually ended up at the feet of Richard Bland outside the area. Making space Bland fired in a powerfully struck shot low down, keeper Hading should possibly done better but the ball beat him low down, for Bland's sixth goal in three matches. Manager Wanklyn commented " I thought we deserved the victory over the 90 minutes, I thought Penn were really up for this game ". " I was disappointed by the way we conceded the opening two goal we should have defended the situation a lot better, but saying that I thought we showed great Spirit, which evident in the side at the moment". I thought Deffelen, Elgar and Wanklyn in the second half were outstanding. Wokingham now have four home games coming up with the first at Cantley this coming Saturday,when league newcomers South Kilburn are the visitors and then on Bank Holiday Monday Wokingham play hosts to Thame Utd again at Cantley. Both games kick off at 3 00pm.
Wokingham & Emmbrook arguably produced the result of the day at Rayners Lane on Saturday. With the game poised at 1 - 1 after 30 minutes, Luke Lee who had been booked only minutes early was shown a second yellow after tangling with ' Lanes ' Paul NcGovern. with the home bench baying for Lee's
dismissal, Mr J. O'Neill obliged. As it turned out it did the home side very little favours. After a scrappy start, Wokingham stepped up a gear to turn out worthy winner's. Up until the incident Wokingham had failed to impress,and all to easily gave the ball away to the Middlesex side. Just like the game at Bisley, Wokingham struck early in only the 3rd minute Richard Bland, who terrorized the home side all afternoon worked his way across the edge of the area before being tripped by Richard Baker. Sam Whiting stepped forward to convert the spot kick was ease. Within two minutes the home side were level. Mark Jimmy crossed low into the area where Jack Parker got in front of Shaun Wanklyn to steer the book low past keeper Doug Bond. The goal inspired the home side who looked the better side, playing good controlled football, although Wokingham looked dangerous on the break with both Bland and Whiting both going close. It wasn't until the sending off that Wokingham at last started to impress. They regained the lead again in the 41st minute after
Bland' s pace and trickery had won a corner out on the right. Sam Duffelen curled his cross in and helped by the strong breeze the ball sailed over keeper Dominic Cassells head and into the net. Right on half time the visitors struck again. Playing the ball out from the back Wokingham struck with pace, the ball was played through the centre for Bland to race clear to side foot past the advancing Cassells. From this point Wokingham never looked back at last playing with a certain amount of confidence. I am sure Manager Wanklyn was expecting a second half onslaught now his side were down to 10 men but his
tactical awareness proved spot on with Wokingham continuing to dominate. They outplayed and out fought their opponents right to the end. Tommy Chapman, Billy Elgar and Sam Whiting must have covered every inch of the grass on this impeccable surface. The visitors did threaten on a couple of occassions. Firstly Bond pulled off the save of the game, plucking the ball out of the air as it was arrowing into his top right hand corner of the net and then Wanklyn cleared from just in front of his goal line. Wokingham however were soon back in the groove with both Elgar and Whiting going close. The game was eventually sewn up in the 76th minute when Elgar's perfectly weighted through ball released Richard Bland through the centre to beat Cassells for his forth goal of the season and Wokingham's fourth. With the game won Andre Stairmand and Kylo Atkinson replaced both Bland and Whiting and both could have added to Wokingham's tally. Darren Thorne then replaced Elgar who moments before had felt a touch of cramp. So maximum points for Wokingham after their first two games of the season and the bonus is that they were both away from home. Manager Wanklyn was obviously delighted with the outcome commented. " I thought we were top draw today". I was dissapointed with our start to the game, but the sending off worked in our favour and kicked us into gear". " Once again I thought Richard Bland was excellent and well supported by Sam Whiting, they couldn't handle them all game, the midfield were awesome when we went down to 10 men and the defence after a tentative start tightened up and didn't put a foot wrong". " We can now move on to the next two games with confidence, at Penn & Tylers Green, Tuesday, and then next Saturday 23rd August against newcomers South Kilburn, our first home game of the season at Cantley. Kick off 3 00pm".
Impressive Wokingham & Emmbrook completely outplayed Combined Counties League opponents Bedfont FC as they continued there build up towards the new season.
The game was once again played over three periods of 30 minutes with Manager Wayne Wanklyn returning from holiday able to give all his 18 man squad a decent run out.
Looking fit and well motivated it took Wokingham just 30 seconds to take the lead when the lively James Wise volleyed in after linking well with Richard Bland. Before Bedfont could recover they fell further behind when Kylo Atkinson finished well after a neat interchange between Sam Duffelen and Luke Lee.
Wokingham continued to dominate and looked to get the ball down at every opportunity with the pace of Bland, Atkinson and Sam Whiting causing all sorts of problems for the Bedfont rear guard.
Defensively Wokingham were rarely threatened in the opening period with Captain Neil Hanson marshalling his troops well and debutant Simon Rushe also impressing.
Bedfonts only goal scoring opportunity came when a long ball was allowed to bounce in the Wokingham area and prodded goalwards but the effort was brilliantly saved low to his left by 16 year old Allied Counties ‘keeper Chris Bryan.
Wanklyn made seven changes at the start of the second period and changed the shape slightly but it made little difference to the flow of the game as his side continued to use the ball well and create a host of chances.
Bedfont themselves made changes and with the wind behind there backs did ask a few more questions of Wokingham defensively but the back three of Rushe, Sean Wanklyn and another debutant Liam Eagle stood firm.
Wokingham went further ahead midway through the period when Sean Wanklyn reacted first to a loose ball in the penalty area from a corner to poke the ball past an overworked Bedfont ‘keeper.
The excellent Richard Bland then got in on the act scoring from close range at the end of a typically pacey run to put his side four up at the end of the period.
More changes were made for the third period with Bedfont now looking a well-beaten and tired outfit as they conceded possession easily. Wokingham attacked with real desire and looked likely to score every time they went forward with Nick Bateman pulling the strings in the centre of the park. Bateman himself should have scored but header nestled into the arms of the keeper after a flowing move involving Wise, Lee and Atkinson.
More goals did eventually come though with Whiting tapping home from five yards out after another well worked move. Bland then grabbed two more and with it his hat trick. The first came after he linked well again with Wise and the second after he met a strong run and cross from Darren Thorne.
Speaking afterwards Manager Wayne Wanklyn was pleased with the win and the manner of the performance albeit against a disappointing limited Bedfont side “ Despite the standard of the opponents it was a good workout and really encouraging performance. We looked to get the ball down and play at every opportunity, created a hatful of chances and importantly always looked to do the right things at the right times”
Assistant Roger Herridge echoed those comments “ It wasn’t the strongest side that they could have sent over but we didn’t drop to their level and continued where we left off last week playing with a real desire and at a high tempo. It was a good team performance and individually too. Bland in particular was outstanding, also Whiting, Lee, Wise, we have so many good options going forward.”
Squad: Chris Bryan, Simon Rushe, Liam Eagle, Neil Hanson (Capt), Phil Mortimer, Kylo Atkinson, Sam Whiting, Luke Lee, Sam Duffelen, James Wise, Richard Bland, Shaun Wanklyn, Billy Elgar, Ben Dearlove, Darren Thorne, Nick Bateman, Grant Lewin, Kieran Painter
Wokingham are at home once again next week when they face Surrey League side Eversley FC. The match kicks off at 4pm at Cantley Park
Wokingham & Emmbrook2Frimley Green1
With the new season only four weeks away, Wokingham & Emmbrook set out on their five game preseason
programme against Combine Counties Division One side Frimley Green. With Manager Wayne Wanklyn and
several players unavailable through holidays. Assistant Roger Herridge picked a young squad of 18 players to
contest this first friendly at Cantley last Saturday. It was agreed before kick off that the game would consist of
three 30 minute periods thus allowing both sides to make changes. It was Wokingham who started the better
playing some neat controlled football with the visitors finding it hard to push forward themselves. On more than
one occasion Wokingham’s neat interchanges in and around the penalty area had the visitors struggling. However
a two shots a piece were the nearest we came to a goal. Firstly Frimley’s Sam Matthews tried his luck from
25 yards and Wokingham’s Richard Bland tested Matt Burton low down from and acute angle. So after the
opening 30 minutes it was still goalless but with Wokinham looking the more threatening. Herridge then made six
changes for the second period and the fluency went out of Wokingham’s play. Although a well weighted through
ball released Luke Lee in on goal but Keeper Burton did enough to deny Lee a strike on goal. Lee then broke
away out on the right and had the ball been played in early Grant Lewin would have had a tap in. The delayed
cross was however well saved by Burton. A corner from the left saw Darren Thorne head just wide of the target.
Again changes were made by both sides for the final thirty minutes. Bland cleverly skipped past three challenges
before firing low across the face of goal but nobody had gambled and the chance went begging. 15 minutes into
the last period the visitors took the lead when poor defending allowed Sam Matthews to pick his spot from close
in. The visitors could have had a second minutes later but Paul Barzey shot hopelessly wide from a good position
. Ex Thatcham player Kylo Atkinson making his debut for Wokingham released Bland through the middle, but the
young strikers well struck effort cannoned off the bar before being scrambled away. With visitors looking like
stealing the game Wokingham struck twice in the final five minutes. Firstly Ex youth player Ben Dearlove picked
out Atkinson on the right and the resulting cross fell into the path of Richard Bland who side footed home from
six yards. With only seconds remaining Wokingham won a corner that wasn’t dealt with by the Frimley defence.
The ball fell invitingly to James Wise who volleyed home from inside the area. With that the final whistle went.
Speaking to Roger Herridge afterwards. “ I was pleased with the performance considering it was our first
outing”. “ Its always nice to gain a win but at this stage it all about putting mileage into the players legs, I thought
we looked sharp at times and our fitness was good considering we only returned to training on the 1 July”. The
only slight disappointment was the quality of our final pass at times, but I am sure that will improve as the fitness
gets better.
Next up for Wokingham & Emmbrook is the visit from Bedfont at Cantley next Saturday 19 July.
