Wanderers underlined their title credentials with a magnificent display against a side tipped by many to win the league this season.

With Allan Mellor in Germany and Mark Timms injured, Dan van der Laan O'Donnell went in goal, and didn't let the team down.

The first half was a scrappy affair as Rides adopted a direct style which tested Clint Falcus and Scott Ford in midfeld, along with Blues' central defenders Andy Corless and Matthew Elliott.  All four players produced magnificent performances which frustrated the Rides team.

In attack Tom Soane and Paul Martin were constant thorns in the sides of the Rides defence.  Their pace and work rate left their opponents with little choice but to foul them time and time again.

Rides offered very little in the first half, long balls into the box led to a few half-chances which they were unable to direct on-target.

The only goal of the half came from Wanderers following a Ford throw-in.  Falcus did well to flick the ball on and Paul Martin reacted fastest to stab home from two yards out.

Wanderers' enjoyed a good spell of possession immediately after the goal and there were further chances for Soane and Anthony Prior, however the score remained 1-0.

In the second-half the tempo was raised, with both sides fully aware of what was at stake. 

Rides continued to play long balls into the penalty area, but the Blues' back line demonstrated great strength to deal with the pressure.  Wanderers' were becoming increasingly frustrated by the referee, who offered very little protection as he ignored foul after foul.  To their credit, the Blues carried on playing their football and their quality was to tell in the end.

After countless crosses into the box, Rides hit the jackpot on the hour as a ball from the right was headed back past van der Laan O'Donnell and into the corner of the net.

Wokingham came back with the perfect reply as they scored a superb team goal just a minute later.  Andy Corless played the ball out of defence and found Prior who released Soane with a well-weighted first-time pass. Soane's pace kept him ahead of the last defender and he showed great composure to hit a right-footed shot in off the far post.

As a team, Rides' heads seemed to drop and Wanderers put more pressure on their opponents.  Soane and Martin scrapped in the box and the ball ran loose to Ian Griffiths who tapped home for 3-1.

Five minutes later, Rides struck back with a lucky shot which seemed to be heading wide until the unfortunate Elliott diverted it in.

The Wanderers of this season have shown themselves to be a very resolute side, and so it proved again.  First a defensive error saw the ball fly over the Rides' 'keepers head and Tom Soane bundled it over the line.  Then Soane fed Paul Martin, who finished confidently to put the Blues 5-2 up.

As the final whistle blew, Wanderers realised that they had made a significant step in their title charge.  This was a game where you can not single out one player for praise, the whole team delivered when it mattered.   

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 Falcus) and Lewis Trusty (Not Used).