Wanderers 1 116 Exiles 2

Following last week's disaster against Rides United Reserves, Wanderers had a squad of fourteen available as they looked to put their inconsistent league form behind them in the first round of the Berks and Bucks Sunday Junior Cup.

With Dave Griffiths unavailable, Richard Scott took the captain's armband for the first time for Wanderers.

It was the away side who started the better, as they mixed a direct style with a good use of both wings.  The Blues back four worked well in the early stages, and reduced their opponents to a couple of long range efforts.

The Blues came into the game as Jamie Ryall and Phil Soane settled into their central midfield positions.  Tom Soane was causing Exiles problems, and invariably their only response was to prompt the linesman to raise his flag, to the frustration of the Blues' players.

With half an hour played, Wanderers came close to breaking the deadlock.  Ryall's surging run saw him break into the Exiles' half and find Prior's run with a good throughball.  Prior was denied by the goalkeeper, but reacted quickly to stab the ball to Richard Scott, who fired towards goal.  The two Exiles' players on the line blocked his effort, and Scott's header from the rebound drifted over to Tom Soane.  Under pressure, Soane's shot was wide of the near post.

The last ten minutes of the half saw Wokingham's best spell, and it brought the first goal.  Ian Griffiths linked up well with Tom Soane, who crossed for Prior to side-foot a volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Exiles responded with two attacks, and although they came close, Nick Harding and the Blues' defence held firm to take the lead into the interval.

Early in the second half, Tom Soane's cross picked out Phil Soane at the far post, however the angle and height made it difficult to direct his effort on target.

With an hour played Wanderers were pegged back as Exiles equalised.  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, as a miss-hit shot rolled against the post and the rebound was back-heeled into the net.

Wanderers introduced Steve Martin and then Paul Martin in the second half, and were to produce chances to win the match.  Immediately after Paul Martin's introduction, he shot wide of goal after a good run.

Minutes later Richard Scott found some space, and pulled the ball back to Prior, who saw his goalbound shot diverted away by a defender.

Controversy was to follow for Wanderers, as they were denied a goal by a terrible refereeing decision.  Paul Martin found himself through on goal on the right hand side, and as broke into the penalty area the goalkeeper's challenge struck Martin and headed across goal.  Anthony Prior knocked the ball over the line, but the effort was ruled out for offside.  Wanderers' had been on the receiving end of some poor decision from Exiles' three linesman throughout the contest, and the referee offered little support.

The decision became all the more painful when Exiles snatched a winner with five minutes remaining.  Following a goalmouth scramble, Harding was beaten by a low shot into the corner of the net.

Wanderers' performance deserved extra-time at least, and had the second "goal" been allowed, it could well have been Wokingham's name in the second round draw.  There was plenty of effort in this display though, and this will need to be repeated against Finchampstead next week.

TEAM: Nick Harding, Chris Orbell, Chris Hillsdon, Clint Falcus, Darren Wakley, Ian Griffiths, Jamie Ryall, Phil Soane, Anthony Prior, Richard Scott, Tom Soane.

SUBS: Steve Martin (for P Soane), Paul Martin (for T Soane) and Andy Corless (for Orbell).