Wokingham Town v North Greenford United
Combined Counties Premier Division North
Back in the 70’s Odyssey once sang about going back to my roots, this was very much the case for me with a visit to Wokingham. Back in the late 70s & early 80s I was a regular at Finchampstead Road, the old ground of Wokingham Town, and have many happy memories from that time. To celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary, the club have reverted from the Wokingham & Emmbrook name used over the last few years back to their old Wokingham Town name remembered so fondly by many.
This Friday night match under the lights at Lowther Road was not going to be easy for the Sumas, coming up against in form North Greenford side who boasted a six wins from seven league games record going into this match. Wokingham’s form had been sketchy, two wins for six and looking to bounce back after a 6-3 reversal in their last game against Ardley United.
So on a wet, soggy and dismal day, a decent crowd gathered including several groundhoppers taking the opportunity to head to an extra game over the weekend.
The game kicked off with the game starting at a frenetic pace, the ball quickly moving from end to end on the slick surface. The visitors started to force the pace and made a great chance after 9 minutes, a good move down the right ended set Charlie Mitchell free and he fizzed a pass across the 6 yard box where Tomasz Siemienczuk just couldn’t get enough on it to force the ball home at the far post.
At the other end Jack Webb found space after picking up a long ball over the visitors defence and fired a shot across keeper Ryan Lehane which finished just inches wide. In the 19th minute North Greenford took the lead, Joe Mills found himself in space on the edge of the area and hit a decent strike goalwards which took a deflection, wrongfooting keeper Emilio Fantocchio, sending him one way and the ball the other. 0-1
Greenford now smelt blood and were pushing the hosts back looking for a second but the home defence held strong until a needless flick in midfield sent Mitchell free. He ran into the box before pulling the trigger only to see Fantocchio save well with his legs when he tried to find the gap at the near post.
Wokingham had their best spell where first, a Georgie Brown shot from distance had Lehane scurrying across the goal with the ball skidding wide of the upright. Anotida Mano then played a lovely curling cross into the box where James Clark controlled well with his back to goal before hooking a shot over his head which went narrowly over.
Five minutes before the break Mitchell made another break down the right flank for the visitors, pulling the ball into Sam Brown who shot well from a tight angle but again Fantocchio was equal to it.
H-T: Wokingham Town 0 North Greenford United 1
Another rain shower heralded the start of the second half with North Greenford taking the initiative, passing the ball around nicely. First, a Mitchell strike from outside the box that just went the wrong side of the post, and then Fantocchio tipped the ball over from another Mitchell shot from distance.
In the 58th minute the pressure told, a nice move down the right led to Mitchell playing a lovely chipped diagonal pass across the face of the goal and Harvey Killeen was there to slide in and knock the ball home. 0-2
Wokingham came back fighting and pushed the visitors defence back with a series of crosses into the box. The final one was hacked clear with the ball reaching Fantocchio inside his own half; he launched the ball forward where Clark was the quickest to react. He ran on and tried to head the ball over the advancing Lehane, the keeper managing to get a touch to parry it into the air but Clark was quickly onto the loose ball and fired into the empty net. 1-2
Two substitutes combined to fashion the next chance for the visitors, a good run down the left by Oluwajenyo Balogun and ball into the 6 yard box was picked up by Jeffrey Sekyere who turned quickly and poked the ball towards goal only to see it ricochet off the bar and away to safety.
North Greenford were now picking off the hosts as they pushed forward for an equaliser, Mitchell hitting a great effort from the edge of the box only to see Fantocchio make a fantastic diving stop at full stretch to palm the ball away.
The closest we came to another goal in the closing stages was a great driving run through the middle by Sekyere and clever pass to Mitchell which led to another shooting chance but the ball finished in the side netting.
F-T: Wokingham Town 1 North Greenford 2
A good game in testing conditions ended with a deserved victory on the night for North Greenford and kept up my record of not seeing them lose in five games since the start of this project. Good performances all around, the best being Charlie Mitchell for the visitors, being involved and looking dangerous in every attack the visitors made, and Emilio Fantocchio, who made a string of saves to keep his side in the game and even got an assist!
It’s always a pleasure to return to Wokingham, a great club kept ticking by some fine people. All the best to both sides in their 24/25 campaigns and maybe see you again at some point this season.
Header photo courtesy of Neil Maskell and Football in Berkshire
You can check out Andrew Batt’s excellent photo gallery from this game by clicking the button below.