wokinghamandemmbrookfc.com
The online home of Wokingham and Emmbrook FC
Wokingham & Emmbrook 3, Woodley Town 2
Saturday 15th August 2009
Wokingham & Emmbrook were made to work hard for the points against newly promoted Woodley Town at Cantley last Saturday. A crowd of 104 were treated to an exciting encounter that could have gone either way, although it was Wokngham who created the better chances throughout. It took Wokingham until the second half to slip into any sort
of rhythm. All to often Wokingham's performance in the opening forty five minutes was sloppy. The defence gave the ball away on to many occasions and I failed to count the number of times the attack were caught offside. The pace up front from both Richard Bland and Luke Lee had the visiting defence in trouble throughout the game. If they held their line when attacking they had the speed to outpace the Woodley without getting into offside positions. The visitors were the first to threaten when Tom Williams cut in but shot high . The influential Dave Bellis released Lee who set up Bland but his shot was deflected for a corner that was cleared. Wokingham were forced to make a change in the 16th minute when Steve Tranter limped off to be replaced by Jack Broome. The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when keeper Stuart Harris failed to read Adam Jeffrey's free kick to the far post the ball was headed back across the face of goal for Craig Hiscock to head home. Wokingham tried to respond when Bland broke out wide on the left, with both Andre Stairmand and Lee were free in the centre but Bland elected to go it alone and his effort nestled into the side netting. a Stairmand cross picked out Darren Thorne but the defender couldn't direct his header goal wards. A poor ball out of defence by Shaun Wanklyn was seized upon by Thorne came across with a timely challenge to avert the danger. Woodley keeper Ben Rose produced a good save to deny Bland after good work by Bellis who had burst into the box. With three minutes of the half remaining Wokingham drew level, they won a corner out on the left take was taken by Stairmand his perfectly flighted cross fell invitingly on to the head of Shaun Wanklyn who headed home. After Manager Wayne Wanklyn's half time talk or dressing down, Wokingham at last began to look the good side that they are. Within five minutes of the restart they were in front with a tremendous Luke Lee effort. After being released out on the left the hard working striker cut in and from the acutest of angles rifled his effort high into the roof of the net. The goal lifted the home side and Bellis forced Rose to again save low down. Woodley leveled in the 55th with a goal that was a comedy of errors. Wokingham failed to clear the danger and a mix up between Grant Lewin and Wanklyn gifted a chance to Woodley's most dangerous player on the day Tom Williams, Williams had the easiest of chances. The game then went through a scrappy period. Both Thorne and James Wise lobbed over the bar. Wokingham's winner came in the 71st minute with a brilliant individual effort from Richard Bland. Gaining possession out side the area his pace and skill took him past three defenders, he looked up before firing an unstoppable effort high into the top corner of the net. Minutes later Bellis gained possession on the half way line before setting off on a strong run going past a couple of defenders, he raced clear getting into the penalty area, again Rose advanced
and this time saved with his feet diverting the ball for a corner. Both sides had a chance in the final minutes firstly Harris failed to deal with another high ball and Woodley substitute
Steven Campbell fired wide while at the other end Lee set up Ben Rice but the midfielders effort cleared the bar after the ball took a bobble at a crucial time. Manager Wanklyn was pleased with the result. " It took a great goal from Blandy to win it for us and Lukes goal was just as impressive ". " Just before they leveled we had a couple of chances to put the game out of their reach ". " At times we were shoddy in the first half but improved in the second half and I thought we just about deserved the win against a side that I think will be there about's at the end of the season ". " It was a good game to watch for the spectators ". This Saturday Wokingham & Emmbrook are at home again when Prestwood are the visitors to Cantley Park. Kick off 3 - 00pm and then on the Monday 24th August Wokingham travel to relegated Milton Utd. Kick off 7 -30pm.
Team: Harris, Lewin, Stairmand, Wanklyn, Tranter ( Broome ), Thorne ( Walton ), Duffelen, Bellis, Bland, Lee, Wise ( Rice ).
Subs not used Cooper - Clarke, Gomez.