Wanderers won for the sixth successive game with an unconvincing performance against Duke’s Head.

It is a measure of Wokingham’s attacking threat that their opponents lined up with five defenders, in an attempt to stifle a Wanderers’ side that had scored 40 goals in their eight previous league matches.  For Wokingham, Mark Timms started in place of the injured Allan Mellor.

In the opening twenty minutes, Wanderers struggled to find their rhythm as Tom Soane and Paul Martin had limited space in which to operate.  At the other end, Timms showed good handling when he was tested with a long-range shot and then a free-kick.

Midway through the half and Wanderers broke the deadlock with a good team goal.  Anthony Prior collected the ball on the left and crossed for Soane to head down.  Ian Griffiths then floated an accurate pass to Martin, who expertly headed over the ‘keeper and into the net.

Wanderers had a few chances to extend their lead before half-time, Prior had a shot saved, Andy Corless headed a Griffiths’ corner wide and then Tom Soane missed the target after a superb Scott Ford pass had found him.

In defence, Corless and Dan van der Laan O’Donnell were resolute as Duke’s Head pumped long balls into the area.

The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Wanderers unable to create much in the way of chances.  They almost conceded an equaliser as the Duke’s Head hit the bar from a corner, before Timms bravely claimed the ball. 

Fifteen minutes into the half Duke’s Head were reduced to ten men, following comments directed at the indecisive referee.

It didn’t take long for Wanderers to use their advantage as they went 2-0 up through Prior.  Substitute Tom Mansfield crossed and Paul Martin showed good close control to cross for Prior to tap home from close range.

This should have been the signal for Wokingham to score again, but instead they conceded straight from the restart.  Mansfield struggled to clear, and the Duke’s Head forward nipped in to shoot under Timms and into the net.

Wanderers raised their game a little, and Soane went close with a header after Chris Orbell headed the ball back into the box following a corner.  Martin then ran down the right and crossed for Prior, only for his goal-bound shot to be cleared off of the line.  Clearly confident after his first goal last week, Tom Mansfield saw a powerful long-range effort whistle just past the upright.

In the closing minutes Duke’s Head had an opportunity but Timms did enough to put off the forward, who shot over.  Wanderers had secured victory, without playing anywhere near to their full potential.