Wokingham & Emmbrook 7, Sandhurst Devels 4, (AET)
Saturday 13th February 2010
Despite progressing to the quarter final's of the Reading Senior Cup, present holders Wokingham & Emmbrook were forced into extra time by Reading League Premier leaders
Sandhurst Devels at Cantley Park on Saturday. Manager Wayne Wanklyn was far from amused and accused his talented side of being " Sloppy " throughout this encounter.
With promotion his main objective this season Wanklyn shuffled his pack leaving top scorer Richard Bland, Darren Thorne, Shaun Wanklyn and Nicky Bateman on the bench.
Still in all cup competitions and top of the table , Wokingham have to be careful that the fixtures don't pile up towards the end of the season as they have already eight fixtures penciled in for April already. It was the visitors who started the better and wasn't until the 9th minute that Wokingham won their first corner. The visitors early pressure paid dividends
in the 15th minute. From a free kick just outside the area on the right the ball was angled in high, Ben Pyle rose above the static Wokingham defence to head past Stuart Harris into the far corner. The goal certainly shocked Wokingham into some sort of action. From an Alex Luis corner Josh Smith headed just wide of the target. Grant Lewin then almost picked out Luke Lee deep in the visitors half. A good build up from the back ended with Ben Rice's deft header just failing to release Lee in on goal. Billy Elgar then glanced a header just to high from another Luis corner. Wokingham were now at last beginning to get on top and at times out pass their opponents, switching play from one side to the other. When they do this they look a very good side. Wokingham's reward came on the half hour when from this period of pressure they equalized. Firstly Jack Broome saw his well struck effort rebound off the foot of the post, the visitors failed to clear the danger and the ball was worked to Luke Lee who drilled his shot low down into the corner of the net past keeper Richard Ball. The remainder of the half saw Wokingham well on top but not being able score, although from one cross keeper Ball misjudged the flight of a cross the ball and it hit a defender in the six yard area, the ball luckily went out for a corner, but could have so easily have gone in the goal. The half concluded with Rice firing high over the bar from 25 yards out while at the other end Alistair Reid saw his effort charged down by Neal Hanson. The second half got under way with Luis's excellent skill creating room for a cross that picked out Shane Cooper - Clarke who's header hit the top of the bar. Wokingham went in front for the first time in the 52nd minute. Working the ball out from the back Jose Gomes gained possession out on the right, the wide player fed the ball into Lee who in turn picked out Luis on the left, again turning cleverly Luis's goal bound effort was helped over the line by Robert Candlish trying to clear. This time the goal lifted the visitors with John Bossom firing high and wide and then David Shearman shooting straight at Harris. Harris then had to make a couple of decent saves low down as the visitors looked to level. They should have leveled in the 61st minute when Harris's attempted punch fell invitingly onto the head of defender Lee Gooch only 6 yards out , the defender some how managed to head over the bar. Manager Wanklyn in an effort to put the game to bed introduced Bland and Bateman
for Gomez and Lewin. Bland's pace proved to be a threat to the visitors as did Bateman's passing and vision. Lee should have increased the lead when clear but after rounding the keeper he failed to take advantage. The final change was made in the 72nd minute with Shaun Wanklyn replacing Hanson. The visitors hit back with 15 minutes remaining when they opened up the Wokingham defence at will before Richard Steel fired home under no pressure. Both sides had chances to snatch it, firstly Harris saved well from Alistair Reid
low down and then Luis fired high at the other end. Wokingham had a great chance in the 90th minute when Luis's free kick bypassed everyone and appeared to hit the post before rebounding into the 6 yard area but nobody reacted for what would have been a simple tap in. So the game went into extra time. As so often happens 2 minutes into extra time Wokingham scored. Luis again crossed and this time it was met by Cooper - Clarke who's powerful header seemed goal bound but somehow keeper Ball arched his back to brilliantly scoop the ball off the line, Bateman however was on hand to tuck the ball into the back of the net, cruel on the keeper. In the 101st minute it was 4 - 2 when the Bateman's inch perfect cross picked out Cooper - Clarke who this time scored with a great header. The game seemed to be put well out of reach of the visitors in the 107th minute when from a free kick just outside the area, Jack Broome brilliantly curled the ball just inside the post 5 - 2. However the visitors were not to be outdone and they hit back twice to make it 5 - 4.
Firstly a corner from the right played in high forced Keeper Harris under pressure to palm the ball into the back of the net and then and then substitute Mark Farrell set up Richard Steel for his second. From looking comfortable it was now game on again for the Cantley Park side. Richard Bland stepped forward to ease Wokingham into the Quarter Final's
and an away tie at Mortimer with two quick goals. Firstly Lee turned provider releasing Bland through the middle, his pace took him clear to round the keeper before side footing home and then Bateman's inch perfect ball released Bland again, some outcome this in the 115th and 117th minutes, now surely it was job done. Despite the progress into the Quarter Final's Manager Wanklyn certainly wasn't impressed with the performance. " How can I be happy with that performance, it was sloppy throughout and players didn't do their job's". " Possibly only a couple of players can be pleased with their efforts, no more". " For a side that have only conceded 2 league goals at home all season, to defend like that, I assure you this will be addressed ". " The only good thing was we are in the Quarter Final's " . On the league front it was another good weekend for Wokingham with Thame Utd, Henley and Milton all dropping points. Its back to league action Next Saturday with highflyers Henley Town are the visitors to Cantley Park .. Kick off 3 00pm.
Team: Harris, Lewin ( Bateman ), Luis, Rice, Smith, Hanson ( Wanklyn ), Broome, Elgar, Cooper - Clarke, Lee, Gomez ( Bland ).
Subs not used Thorne.
Atten: 67.