WOKINGHAM & Emmbrook slumped to a third successive Hellenic Premier defeat on Saturday – but they gave reigning champions Flackwell Heath a real scare.

The Sumas lost by the odd goal in seven after they mounted a storming fightback before eventually going down 4-3.

But Flackwell knew they had been involved in the closest of games against a Wokingham side who belied their early season struggles that has seen then pick up one win from their opening nine league fixtures.

The visitors got off to a bad start and fell behind to an early Flackwell goal when Joe Blount scored from a Dan Rapley cross.

Wokingham almost levelled straight away when Craig Haylett was denied after being one-on-one with the Flackwell keeper.

But Wokingham did manage to drawl level soon after when Chris Yeatman headed home from a Nick Bateman corner, and it remained 1-1 at the interval.

However, a sloppy start to the second half ended costing Wokingham dearly as Flackwell scored three more goals to take a 4-1 lead.

They got their noses back in front thanks to a Rapley strike after Elliot Rushforth had replaced Bateman.

A third Flackwell goal then followed through Dan Molloy and it got even worse for Sumas when Blount notched his second of the game to put The Heathens 4-1 up.

It would have been easy for Wokingham to fold right there and then, but instead they staged a stunning response that bodes well for the future.

They took the game to the hosts and, after Rushforth had whistled a shot side, Haylett struck to make it 4-2.

Rushforth then had a goal disallowed before Sam Duffelen grabbed a third Sumas goal in the latter stages.

By that point Flackwell were hanging on, but they survived a nervy finish to claim all three points.

Nevertheless, Sumas will have been buoyed by their recovery going into last night's home fixture against Ascot United.

Sumas then host Kidlington at Henley Town FC this Saturday (3pm) and also Bracknell Town Saints next Tuesday (7.45pm).