Copyright: © The Wandering Tractor 2023
AUGUST 23/24
Reading City 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook 1
Saturday 12th August 2023
Combined Counties Premier North
So after a long wait and an operation just two weeks previously, it was finally time for my 23/24 season to begin. A trip to Scours Lane and the Rivermoor
stadium for the opening day of the Combined Counties League season which brought together two local rivals, Reading City and Wokingham &
Emmbrook. The hour long bus journey was fine despite the driver having a lead foot and constantly stopping because he’d reached the stops too early.
Still, it gave him some time to get out of the bus and play on his phone for five minutes. Can’t complain too much though as we arrived in Reading earlier
than expected!
In a very even opening twenty minutes there were chances at either end. Wokingham had the first chance on three minutes when Morgan swung in a
cross which was controlled well by Woods but his shot was easily dealt with by York in the Cityzens goal. Tyler D’Cruz came close at the other end on 14
minutes when he got on the end of a good long throw from Lazarczuk but could only poke the ball over the bar. A minute later Morgan again put a great
cross into a dangerous area for the visitors but Goodwin could only flick his header wide.
Following a hard fought first half hour the deadlock was finally broken in the 32nd minute. Another massive long throw from Lazarczuk on the right was
met again by D’Cruz and this time his header sailed into the Sumas net. 1-0
The hosts had a chance to double their lead when a long free kick was headed back across the goal by Cowd giving Davies a chance but he got underneath
it and his header went harmlessly over.
H-T: Reading City 1 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0
The second half started in much the same vein although with the visitors more on the front foot as they battled to get back into the game. Woods had a
chance early on for the visitors but good defensive covering saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. An equaliser wasn’t far away though as Wokingham
were awarded a penalty when Morgan was hauled down inside the box. Woods took responsibility from the spot and sent the keeper the wrong way to
level the game on 59 minutes. 1-1
In the 74th minute the referee pointed to the spot again this time at the other end after Goodwin hauled down Robinson in the box and was sin-binned.
Very similar fouls at both ends and if you give one, you have to give the other. Josh Baines stroking the spot kick away nicely to regain the lead for the
hosts. 2-1
The game now got a little tetchy with niggly fouls by both sides as the short-handed Sumas looked for a second leveller. D’Cruz was spoken to by the
referee after being fouled and waving an imaginary card at the official, one of my bugbears with the modern game. The referee was quite lenient and
didn’t show him a yellow card.
Chances were now few and far between but with the Cityzens on the front foot. They left it late to confirm the three points but it was worth waiting for with
Joe Pilling stroking home a pull back from the edge of the six yard box. 3-1
We then had the now obligatory 9 or 10 minutes of added time with the referee blowing the final whistle just before 5pm.
F-T: Reading City 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook 1
A tough fought game where both sides played well and created chances with Reading probably edging it and deserved the win. Both sides look to have
improvement in them so it’ll be interesting to catch up with both later in the season.
Ascot United Ladies 2 Maidenhead United Women 1
Sunday 13th August 2023
Pre-season Friendly
A short journey to another local club and a chance to catch up with two sides I followed several times over the course of last season. The corresponding
weekend in 2022 I visited the Racecourse for my first ever women’s game with Ascot taking on Fulham in another pre-season friendly (I won’t mention
the result!). This season local rivals from the FAWNL, Maidenhead United, were the visitors. A club I know well after seeing eleven of their matches in
22/23.
Birthday boy and local football photography legend Andrew Batt drove to the game which meant I didn’t have the joys of public transport and a long
walk to contend with this time, which was nice! Both sides were warming up as we arrived, both having a mixture of first and development team players
with it still being holiday season and a with smattering of injuries in both camps.
The game began with a good run down the right flank by the Magpies Izzy Davis led to an early corner, this was played short and cleared easily. Ascot
had their first chance with Hayley Cruickshank latching onto a ball over the top it looked like she’d gone clear but the covering defender recovered well to
clear.
It wasn’t long before the hosts were ahead, Farrah Yewings (hope I’ve got that right!) made a run down the right and swung in a cross shot which drifted
over Kenny Clarke in the Magpies goal, nestling just inside the far post. 1-0
Maidenhead fought back after the early setback winning a corner on the right. Simone O’Brien hit a beauty to the far post where Amy Saunders was well
marshalled by two defenders and just couldn’t get a firm enough touch to force it over the line. Shortly after another O’Brien outswinging corner was
controlled well by Ruth Topping who passed it through to Izzy Stockton with the ball ending up in the net before being ruled out for offside.
Yewings was looking dangerous down the right and again outpaced the Maidenhead defence before striking a fierce drive across Clarke which drifted
agonisingly just wide of the far post. Next a nice move involving Yehings and Cruickshank found Philippa Holden free on the edge of the area but her
shot was well blocked.
Just before half time Ascot doubled their lead. A free kick near the halfway line on the left was launched into the area, Clarke came out to claim but spilled
the ball and it dropped to Cruickshank who knocked the ball into the empty net. 2-0
H-T: Ascot United 2 Maidenhead United 0
Maidenhead were looking to step it up in the second half and it wasn’t long before they fashioned a chance. A driving run by Topping found Stockton,
she went past a couple of players, her pass finding Natalie Cowell on the edge of the box. She twisted and turned trying to find a yard and found enough
space to get a shot away but it drifted wide of the goal.
The visitors were now having the lion’s share of possession but were struggling to make any clear cut chances and with Ascot’s pace on the break they
still looked dangerous. Out of nothing the referee pointed to the spot, adjudging an Ascot infringement in the area. Cowell took the penalty but saw her
spot kick well saved by the Ascot keeper.
Ascot came back and had a couple of breaks which were pulled up for offside, one especially looked a tight call. Maidenhead put some fresh legs on and
the introduction of Gemma Luke and Jade Hockey in particular seemed to make an impact. Hockey picked up a loose ball outside the area, controlled
nicely and fired a shot which went just over the bar.
Hockey was involved again as the visitors pushed to get back into the match. Ascot’s defence were guilty of trying to overplay in their own 18 yard box
with Izzy Davis closing them down, Hockey intercepted the ball on the edge of the area and chipped a beauty over the keeper and into the far corner. 2-1
Maidenhead poured forward seeking an equaliser with another substitute, Vicky Collett, having a couple of efforts off target before another great run
from Topping from inside her own half, finding Hockey but this time she skewed her effort wide.
F-T: Ascot United 2 Maidenhead United 1
A good run out for both teams and an entertaining game. Ascot look a strong side and with plenty of quality players to come back in, will be hopeful of
another successful season. Standout players for the hosts for me were Farrah Yewings, Hayley Cruickshank and Kate Fox, a midfielder who won most of
the midfield battles, especially in the first half.
Maidenhead will have learnt a lot from the game too, good performances from Simone O’Brien whose set pieces were always dangerous, Isaac Gregory
looks a composed and tidy defender who covers well, Izzy Davis, Ruth Topping and Jade Hockey who so nearly changed the game after coming on.
No doubt I’ll be catching up with both sides in the near future!
August 2023/24
And so it begins…finally!
Bracknell Town 3 Hungerford Town 1
Tuesday 15th August 2023
Southern League Premier South
It’s always fun to return to Bracknell Town, a team I’ve followed on and off since the mid to late 1970’s. A trip to watch Bracknell is always a pleasure, it’s
great to have a chance to catch up with Robins legends, ex-players and long standing supporters I’ve known for many years from my Bracknell Town
past.
Now situated in neighbouring Sandhurst at the redeveloped Bottom Meadow ground, the Robins are now on an upward trajectory and looking to rise
further through the leagues. They finished second in the Southern League Premier South last season but, with only the champions being promoted by
right, they had to go through the lottery of the play-offs where they eventually lost out 3-2 to Truro City in the final.
The journey over was just a short bus ride for me and, upon entry to the ground, I had my first chance to check out the impressive newly laid all weather
surface. The club had to source an alternative source for the surface from Scandanavia as they couldn’t use the usual black pellet type due to local
ecological concerns. It does look good and will hopefully mean they won’t have a repeat of the fixture congestion suffered by both Bracknell and
especially Sandhurst at the end of last season.
Anyway, onto the game which started at a frenetic pace. Hungerford, playing at this level for the first time in six years following their relegation from the
Natinal League South, started brightly with the pace of Fabio Lopes causing the Robins defence some early problems. The game was flowing from end to
end and Bracknell took an early lead 11 minutes in when Joe Grant got on the end of a headed defensive clearance in the six yard box to nod the ball
home. There looked to be the hint of a push by Grant on the defender in the run up to the goal but it went unseen by the officials. 1-0
The lead only lasted 4 minutes as Lopes latched onto a ball over the top, beating Bracknell keeper Michael Eacott to the ball and getting enough on the
ball for it to loop into the empty net. 1-1
The Robins front line were looking dangerous and on 22 minutes retook the lead, a lovely build up culminating in a composed finish from livewire Nana
Owusu, a recent signing from Dulwich Hamlet. 2-1
The end to end nature of the game continued through an entertaining first half with both sides using their pacy forwards to create chances but there
were no further additions to the scoreline.
H-T: Bracknell Town 2 Hungerford Town 1
The second half began as the first ended with both sides making chances, the visitors coming closest with an effort which sailed high, wide and not so
handsome. Seven minutes in, Owusu and Grant linked up well down the left flank with the latter knocking the ball towards the byline where he was sent
sprawling under a challenge from the Hungerford centre back. The referee was just 5 yards away from the incident and pointed straight to the spot. It
looked a soft penalty from where I was standing but Grant was clipped and the referee had no doubt so despite all the protestations the penalty was
given. Jordan Esprit stepped up and calmly slotted the spotkick home before celebrating with the home fans. 3-1
Hungerford pushed to get back in the game but created just a couple of half chances, on 65 minutes the Crusaders had probably their best chance but
once again the shot went sailing over the bar from 6 yards out. Esprit came close when breaking clear but saw his shot well saved by Clarke in the visitors
goal. On 75 minutes a Hungerford defender (Baker?) went down with what looked a nasty injury and brought all the physios racing on. After a delay of
four to five minutes he was carried off and hopefully his injury won’t be too serious and he makes a quick recovery.
Bracknell managed to see out the rest of the game and take the vital three points against local and likely promotion rivals. For the Robins, Grant and
Esprit impressed as did Lopes for the Crusaders but Nana Owusu take my player of the match. He has great touch and pace, good vision and is a great
outlet for picking up clearances and holding up the ball to relieve pressure. He took his goal well and looked a constant danger throughout the match.
F-T: Bracknell Town 3 Hungerford Town 1
Woodley United 1 British Airways 0
Saturday 19th August 2023
Combined Counties League Division One
The second Saturday of my 23/24 campaign and due to health restrictions it meant a second visit to Scours Lane in a week, to this time visit Woodley
United at the Rivermoor Stadium. The journey over was interesting, a bus trip with a dodgy back and the state of our pothole riven roads was not a good
combination! After spending some time catching up with a few of the wonderful people who keep the club running, I ventured into the bar for my first
burger of the season, a soft drink and a read of the printed matchday programme.
Today’s game was to be the second meeting of the season for Woodley and opponents British Airways, a peculiarity in the league fixture computer
meant the two sides had found themselves pitted against each other over consecutive weekends. The previous Saturday, British Airways had run out
comfortable 5-1 winners at their Bedfont base so this fixture looked to be a daunting one for the hosts.
The first action in the match led to an early chance for Woodley, BA tried to play out from the back and pressure from Rafa Brandao led to him blocking a
pass with the loose ball falling to the feet of Sid Gbla, his backheel found Brandao again running into the area but his snapshot went straight to captain
Ben Clargo in the visitors goal. Airways had their first chance minutes later when, following smart link up play across the pitch, the ball fell nicely for
Reece Keary just on the edge of the box and his first time effort was saved well by Finn Rushton at his near post.
Woodley winger McKoy Palmer was in the thick of the action twice in the next few minutes. First he raced onto a through ball from Bakai Manneh and cut
inside two challenges before seeing his shot blocked and, moments later, his trickery on the left gave him a yard to send a shot goalwards only to see it
go straight to Clargo.
The game was end to end with the home side just edging it and looking more dangerous in the final third. Manneh fired over from the edge of the area
for Woodley and Mark Webb saw an effort go narrowly wide for British Airways before the telling moment in the game. A long throw on the right from
Palmer was flicked on by Watkiss which caused panic in the BA defence, the ball bouncing into the six yard box and coming off the upright. As Clargo
desperately tried to clear, Gbla reacted quickest to the rebound and managed to lift the ball into the roof of the net. 1-0
Right at the end of the half, Airways had a golden chance to equalise. A long ball down the middle was misjudged by the Woodley centre back and
allowed to bounce leaving Maurad Jarraz clear on goal. Rushton came out quickly to narrow the angle forcing Jarraz to try for the corner only for the
forward to blast his shot wide of the post.
H-T: Woodley United 1 British Airways 0
The visitors started the second half on the front foot, forcing a flurry of corners early on which were defended well by the home defence, the closest they
came was a header just over the bar from Shaun Aram. Woodley were still creating chances on the break, a lovely flowing move across the pitch involving
Palmer, Gbla and Ben Lambourne found Connor Richardson in space on the right flank. Richardson clipped the ball across the 6 yard box finding Gbla
who could only stab the ball wide under pressure.
Richardson had a chance himself moments later but his effort was saved by the legs of Clargo. British Airways continued to press forward looking to level
but a mixture of good defensive work from the hosts and their inability to cut through the staunch back line meant they were reduced to half chances.
The latest of these, after good play in the build-up, saw substitute Ramine Griffith-Dubar blast the ball over the bar and an Alfie Finnan effort from
distance well dealt with by Rushton.
Woodley were defending deep but occasionally breaking with pace, another great run from Richardson who ghosted past a couple of defenders to the
byline where he pulled the ball back across the 6 yard box towards Palmer but he just failed to get the touch that would have probably sealed the game.
Both sides were reduced to ten men after first Manneh for Woodley and soon after, Aram for BA, were sin-binned. The visitors still pushed forward and
forced one final chance at the death (9 minutes of added time) when a corner was flicked on at the near post and hit the junction of the post and bar and
bounced away to safety.
A “backs to the wall” display from Woodley for much of the second half but their defence played well, defending resolutely while also looking dangerous
on the break. British Airways will probably feel they should have taken something from the game but they just couldn’t find a way to unlock the hosts
defence. All in all, I think Woodley deserved the three points after a battling defensive display and they also had enough chances to win by a larger
margin. F-T: Woodley United 1 British Airways 0
S4K Ladies 3 Kingsclere Ladies 2
Sunday 20th August 2023
Pre-season Friendly
Like many people on this particular Sunday, I took the opportunity to watch history in the making by cheering on the Lionesses in the World Cup Final.
I had originally planned to head off to Farnborough to see their brand new ladies team play in their first match at Cherrywood Road but a mixture of
public transport worries and not being able to walk too far meant a late change in plans. This gave me the opportunity to watch the final at home before
taking a short walk down to the Bracknell Leisure Centre to catch up with S4K Ladies.
Unfortunately, the result was disappointing for the Lionesses and they couldn’t quite recreate the intensity they showed when beating hosts Australia in
the semi final and Spain ended up worthy winners. Obviously losing the likes of Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby before the finals left huge
gaps to fill but Sarina Wiegman’s squad pulled together and did extraordinarily well to reach the final. Over the past couple of years they have truly built
a legacy that has inspired so many women and girls of all ages to get involved in the game we all love so much. The women’s game looks to be in an
upward trajectory and long may that continue!
My late start to the season and the inability to travel too far has given me the chance to reconnect with some of the friendliest local clubs I visited several
times during the course of the 22/23 season and this was to be no exception. It’s always a pleasure to come and visit S4K although, given my record of
not seeing them win a game last season, I’m not sure they were that happy to see me! This was to be a friendly with a difference, playing three periods
of 30 minutes instead of the standard two halves against local rivals Kingsclere.
A mixture of injuries and holidays meant there were several new players I’d not seen since my last visit to S4K along with a change in the dugout. The
hosts started with a new back four and it was fascinating watching and listening to boss Charisse Tregear coaching them throughout the game. Leanne
Harkins opened the scoring for S4K with a smart finish followed by the impressive Tracey Beales levelling for Kingsclere. Kate Stewart restored the hosts
lead only for Beales to again level the score.
Then in the 3rd third, Kate Stewart struck what turned out to be the winner for the home side although the visitors did have a golden chance to level
again late on but couldn’t take the opportunity. The match was halted early due to what looked to be a nasty injury to one of the Kingsclere players,
hopefully the injury won’t turn out to be as bad as it sounded and she can recover quickly.
A good game and minutes in legs for two closely matched teams with both sides playing some nice football. The S4K stand-outs for me were Natalie
Beeches, a solid defender who looked good going forward and showed good delivery from set pieces, Kate Stewart for her two goals and being a
constant threat all game, Scarlett Keightley who looks a cultured midfielder with excellent ball skills and, putting on my goalkeepers union hat, Faye
Caterer, who made some important saves especially in the latter stages as Kingsclere were pushing to level.
For Kingsclere, the aforementioned Tracey Beales looks a good player, excellent link up play and took her opportunities well. Amy Cowan put in an all
action display on her debut in women’s football, and, once again, the goalkeeper Elmo Hamilton, who played well and made a few brave saves at the feet
of oncoming forwards.
My only disappointment from the day was the current state of the pitch at the leisure centre. I’m guessing being a public facility it doesn’t get the looking
after it needs and their only answer seems to be to put more and more black pellets down on the surface. From a distance you can’t really tell if it’s an
astroturf or asphalt surface now there’s that many pellets, and that doesn’t help the run or bounce of the ball. And don’t even get me started on the wire
above the halfway line for the net that separates the two 5-a-side pitches! With S4K playing their league games at Cantley Park this season hopefully
they’ll experience a better playing surface.
Good luck to both sides this season, I’ll no doubt get to see both again and, now I’ve finally broken my S4K losing streak, maybe I’ll become a lucky omen
rather than a Jinx for them this season!