Defeat for Town

Both teams produced an excellent match for the 141 spectators and it was a shame there was a winner as a point a piece would have been worthy of the efforts given by the players.

Whereas Wokingham edged the first half, Town were the stronger in the second but fell to a Shaun Wanklyn strike with six minutes remaining.

Wokingham started the stronger enjoying plenty of possession but Woodley did not help themselves by the number of free kicks they were conceding in their own half.

The lively Richard Bland was denied in the opening minute as the ball bounced unkindly for him while a rare Woodley attack saw Carl Davies follow a good run with a tame shot at Wokingham’s Stuart Harris.

Wokingham were rewarded for their bright start on fifteen minutes when Luke Lee was allowed to run with the ball and feed Bland to unleash a low drive from twenty five yards that took a slight deflection past the diving Matt Skinner.

Gradually Town got into their stride with Paul Wilder heading to Harris, who also thwarted Davis on a one on one. Wilder had the ball in the net but an offside in the build up saw the effort disallowed while Davies had a good claim for a penalty when Wanklyn was holding the striker to prevent him from reaching the ball.

The second half saw Town take the match to their opponents with the Wokingham defence standing firm to the pressure and surviving some narrow scares with Wilder heading narrowly wide from a Chris Hatton throw in, Richard Thomas firing over and Alex Luis having to make a headed clearance.

The equaliser came on seventy minutes when Jon Christopher’s free kick was headed goal wards by Davies and saw Grant Lewin deflect the ball into his own net. Town looked the more likely to secure the win with substitute Steven Campbell lively up front but Wokingham were determined not to give up the points.

Bland hit the bottom of the upright only for Nick Bateman to shoot the rebound wide on seventy five minutes as both teams went in search of the winner, which fell to Wanklyn whose effort from a cleared corner, on the edge of the box was drilled above Jamie Fairchild and into the top left hand corner of the net.

While Town were disappointed by losing their first league match in twelve outings this performance, ably led by man of the match Warren Baxter, shows how far the team has come this season and will set them in good stead for an assault on honours next year.