Wokingham Wanderers F.C.

Royal Hunt 2 Wanderers 4

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21st November 2004 - Division 3 - Calfridus Way, Bracknell

Wanderers travelled to Bracknell to face Royal Hunt, hoping to equal the club record of four wins in-a-row and remain unbeaten for a record seventh successive game.

 

The Blues made the worst possible start when they fell behind after fifteen minutes.  A low cross from the Royal Hunt's left winger eluded everyone and was tapped into the net from two yards out.

 

On a boggy pitch, Wanderers were struggling to retain possession, but managed to equalise just five minutes after going behind.  From Ian Griffiths' corner, Dan van der Laan O'Donnell troubled the Royal Hunt defence enough to allow Andy Corless to force the ball over the line.

 

Despite the equaliser, Wokingham were finding it difficult to pass the ball effectively, and were caught out by a quick switch of play from Royal Hunt and Allan Mellor was beaten by a powerful shot from ten yards out.

 

Things could have been worse for the Blues, as their opponents struck the post twice in the space of a minute.  First a corner curled past everyone and hit the woodwork, before a close range shot again cannoned off of the same post.

 

With ten minutes left in the half, Wanderers were given the opportunity to draw level.  Paul Martin beat a defender, only to be brought down just inside the area.  Anthony Prior stepped up to score the penalty, hitting his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

 

As the first half was drawing to a close, Wanderers lost Griffiths through injury and Jamie Ryall came on to take his place.

 

The second-half was end-to-end, although the best of the chances fell to Royal Hunt.

 

Wanderers were spared by a glaring miss, after Mellor had spilled a cross.  The Blues 'keeper was to make up for his error though, after Royal Hunt were awarded a penalty following an uncharacteristic foul by Chris Orbell.  The kick was struck powerfully to Mellor's left and he produced a fantastic save, somehow clutching onto the ball.

 

With fifteen minutes remaining Lewis Trusty was introduced for Clint Falcus, and he was to have a massive say in the result.  There were five minutes left when Trusty produced a fine floated pass to Tom Soane, who lashed the ball into the back of the net.

 

Two minutes later, and Soane clinched the points for the Blues.  Martin did well to beat one player before feeding Soane, and Wanderers' top-scorer curled the ball beyond the 'keeper and into the top corner.

 

This was not Wanderers' best performance of the season, but they showed the character and quality that has taken them to the top of the Third Division.

 

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

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