16th & 17th FEBRUARY
Bluefin Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup - Round 1
Second half finishing crushes the young pretenders.
Wantage Town 7 - 2 Wokingham and Emmbrook
A second half handful of Wantage goals, demonstrating sharp finishing, overcame a spirited resistance from the leaders of Division One East, who never looked liked a team on the end of a thrashing, and to whose credit, kept coming forward to keep Wantage’s back three busy right up to the final whistle.
In a game played on an extremely difficult surface, made greasy by pre-match rain, both sides entertained the small crowd, swelled by the Wokingham following.
The first half started brightly for Wantage with Tom Austin driving a free kick just over the Wokingham bar. For the first twenty minutes honours were even as the respective midfields introduced themselves to each other, but in the 22nd minute the visitors went ahead, Wantage defender Tom Rowe failing to get enough purchase on a clearing header and nodding the ball gently to the feet of Shane Cooper-Clark, the Wokingham striker neatly side-stepping the defender and tucking the ball into the corner of the net past Wantage keeper Rob Durrant. Wantage responded immediately, raiding winger Matty Horsell drawing a great save from Wokingham keeper Stuart Harris. In the 25th minute Matt Biddle got the first of his evening’s hat-trick, played in by a finely judged Claydon header, the Wantage midfielder stabbing the ball low and hard past Harris, to put the home side back on level terms. In the 32nd minute, after a period of Wantage pressure, Richie Claydon blasted over when allowed a clear shot on goal. With the half drawing to a close, Claydon drew a great defensive block from the impressive Wokingham full back Alex Luis, the rebound falling again to Claydon, whose low right footed effort was turned past Harris by central defender and Captain Gary Swann. At this point, Wantage were relieved to go in at half time with a one goal lead.  
Half Time: 2 - 1
Despite the conditions, and demonstrating their fitness, Wantage applied more pressure in the second half, patiently maintaining possession and showing plenty of movement off of the ball. In the 60th minute, a neat Tom Malton chip over the Wokingham back line put Danny Keen clear, the Wantage striker lobbing Harris from distance with a finely judged strike to put the home side 3 – 1 up. Four minutes later, Matt Biddle got his second and the Wantage fourth, firmly heading in unchallenged from a Tom Austin corner. Wokingham maintained the pace of the game and responded in the 66th minute, reducing the deficit to two goals, Richard Bland given time to find the net as Wantage failed to clear their lines. A late flurry of Wantage pressure produced three goals as the Wokingham defender’s legs tired. Danny Keen cleverly met a Tom Austin corner at the near post, losing his marker with quick movement and glancing the ball past Harris. A minute later the goal of the evening came at the end of a five man move, Tom Austin’s neat cross being driven in by substitute Liam McCullough, who had started the move from the half-way line. The goal flurry was rounded off as Matt Biddle secured his hat-trick, this time being on hand to meet Danny Keen’s cross and turn the ball past the luckless Harris.  
This was a good work out for Wantage before their challenging league encounter with Old Woodstock at Alfredian Park on Saturday, which leads to the tough encounters with Kidlington (Tuesday, 23rd February away) and Shortwood United (Saturday, 27th February at home.)

PREMIER Division
Pegasus Junior’s 2 - 4 Shortwood United
Parrott Talks!!
Shortwood made light of their injury problems as they came away from Old School Lane with all three points after a free flowing and entertaining game. Pegasus fully played their part with their speed of breaks but Wood supplied the better finishing and, in the second half particularly, the brand of football that is making them such an easy side too watch! Andy Hoskins led the line superbly, Mike Green showed class with every ball but in young Jake Parrott they had the games’ outstanding player. Parrott certainly let his football do the talking as he pressed for a regular place with a performance where he seemed to be everywhere – and he richly deserved his goal that gave the Wood the lead for the third time.
The opening exchanges were even as both sides attacked from the start but it was Wood who drew first blood after only 10 minutes. Craig Cole escaped down the left and his low cross was cleverly stepped over by Mike Green allowing the ball to travel to Andy Hoskins who shot home from ten yards. The lead only lasted 8 minutes. Cory Hyde’s corner rebounded off the frame of the post and from the cross back into the box the ball was smartly laid into the path of the unmarked Mortlock who shot across Rich Thomas and in.  Both sides went for the lead and Wood thought they might have had a penalty when Cole appeared to be brought down. Home keeper Turpin made a smart double save to deny Mike Green and Jamie Cuss ripped through the Wood defence only to shoot wide and the score remained level at half time.
Half Time: 1 - 1
It took less than a minute after the break for Wood to restore their lead. Parrott whipped a low cross and Collins was about to tap home when his feet were whipped away. Although the referee waved play on his assistant raised his flag across his chest and Hoskins thumped home the penalty. Again the lead was short lived. A rare mistake from Ash Thomas allowed Mortlock to gain possession and race through to score.  Wood restored their advantage after 57 minutes with a simple goal. Rich Thomas supplied a long kick, Hoskins a flick on and Parrott shot home from the edge of the area. A fourth goal followed on the hour to seal Wood’s victory. Mike Green’s in-swinging corner was only cleared to the edge of the box where Luke Benneyworth brought the ball under control and rifled a hot back through the crowded goalmouth and in. Wood were firing on all cylinders after this but could not add to their tally. Parrott had another effort scrambled away, Hoskins hit the post with a header and Turpin saved Mish Green’s effort on the line. Right at the death Turpin did well to push over a powerful header from Axton.
Afterwards John Evans said: “I was relieved to come here and take all three points! We deserved it tough with a decent performance – several players were outstanding but Jake Parrott was my man of the match!”