Wokingham Wanderers F.C.

Finchampstead Athletic Sunday 2 Wanderers 3

Home
Team Information
Player Profiles
Fixtures / Results
League Table
Match Reports
Gallery
Team History
Club Sponsor
Links

27th January 2008 - Senior Cup - Finchampstead Memorial Ground, Finchampstead

Wanderers finally played their Second Round match with Finchampstead having switched venues for the tie.

 

On the best pitch in the league Wokingham passed the ball around well, although Finchampstead enjoyed more of the opening twenty minutes.

 

The Blues had already been caught out twice at the back when Finchampstead ran clear.  Harding raced out, and then took a step back and his uncertainty was punished as the forward rounded him and tapped home.

 

The goal fired Wokingham into life.  They passed with more fluidity and created chances.  Anthony Prior headed wide from Ian Griffiths' free-kick, then spurned an even better opportunity after being superbly released by Simon Reip's pass.

 

Reip then had a long range free-kick parried away by the Finchampstead goalkeeper.

 

With half-time approaching Wanderers grabbed a deserved equaliser.  Prior's corner from the left was headed home powerfully at the near-post by Dave Griffiths.

 

In the second half and Finchampstead got themselves back into the game as they looked to take advantage of Wokingham's high defensive line.

 

On the hour mark Harding was exposed by a ball across the box and the ball was hit across him into the bottom corner.

 

From that point on Wokingham were clearly the better team.  The Blues enjoyed a large share of possession but were not creating many chances.

 

With fifteen minutes remaining Reip hit another free-kick from forty yards out.  The Finchampstead 'keeper dived to his right but the ball squirmed underneath him for 2-2.

 

Wanderers pressed for a winner and with three minutes left Reip burst into the box and was fouled.  Prior stepped up to shoot into the corner of the net and Wokingham had the lead for the first time in the contest.

 

There was some late drama as Prior wasted another chance with the goal gaping.  Finchampstead were then reduced to ten men as they grew frustrated with Wokingham playing time out in the corner.

 

The Blues now face Green Man for a semi-final place in three weeks time.

 

TEAM: Nick Harding, Phil Soane, Chris Hillsdon, Andy Corless, Chris Orbell, Simon Reip, Steve Martin, Dave Griffiths, Ian Griffiths, Anthony Prior, Paul Martin.

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