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7th November 2004 - Junior Cup - Woodford Park, Woodley

Following their impressive victory over Rides United in the last match, Wanderers travelled to Woodley to face Second Division Hammers in the Second Round of the Junior Cup.

With Allan Mellor still absent, Dan van der Laan O'Donnell continued in goal.

 

Wokingham started well in a fast-paced match, although their opponents enjoyed slightly more possession in the opening stages. 

 

Tom Soane and Paul Martin were proving a handful in attack for the Blues, with only some suspect offside decisions preventing Soane from opening the scoring.

 

At the other end Woodley threatened down both wings, but Andy Corless and Matthew Elliott were leading the line well.  Against a team who were keen to use both wings, Chris Orbell and Chris Hillsdon also stood up well.

 

Midway through the half Wanderers opened the scoring with a superb team goal.  Corless played the ball out of defence and released Anthony Prior on the left, who ran to the by-line before pulling the ball back to Soane who lashed home from twelve yards out.  Wokingham had to change things around almost immediately as Martin suffered an injury, Prior moved into attack and Jamie Ryall came on at left wing.

 

After scoring Wanderers sat back a little and allowed their opponents to play.  The Blues looked like holding out until half time, until van der Laan O'Donnell was left exposed after a cross from the Hammers left and he was beaten low to his left.

 

Wanderers began the second half in the best possible way.  After Soane had been fouled on the edge of the box, Ian Griffiths drove the resulting free-kick through the ball and into the bottom corner of the net.

 

Having regained the lead, Wanderers played some confident football, with Hillsdon and Griffiths linking up well on the right.  Both Soane and Prior had shots blocked as the Blues looked to extend their advantage.

 

A third goal looked likely and arrived on the hour mark, with Griffiths again the scorer.  Scott Ford's long throw from the left wasn't dealt with by the Hammers' defence and Griffiths nipped in to tap home from close range.

 

With fifteen minutes remaining, Hammers got a break and found a way back into the match.  A free-kick thirty yards from goal seemed to pose no danger, but the shot struck Ford and he inadvertently sent the ball past van der Laan O'Donnell.

 

The hardworking Clint Falcus made way for Lewis Trusty, who was joined in the centre of midfield by Prior as Wanderers reverted to a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to seal victory. 

 

As Hammers put severe pressure on Wokingham in the last ten minutes, the Blues were resolute with Trusty, Corless and Elliott making important challenges.  In goal, van der Laan O'Donnell demonstrated great handling as crosses flew into the Blues' box.

 

The final whistle was greeted by cheers from the Blues' faithful as a deserved victory saw their passage through to the Quarter Finals of the cup.  The success is also Wanderers' fifth successive match without defeat, a run they hope to continue in the league.

TEAM: Dan van der Laan O'Donnell, Chris Hillsdon, Matthew Elliott, Andy Corless, Chris Orbell, Ian Griffiths, Scott Ford, Clint Falcus, Anthony Prior, Tom Soane, Paul Martin.

SUBS: Jamie Ryall (for Martin) and Lewis Trusty (for Falcus).