WOKINGHAM and Emmbrook FC are heading out of the Hellenic League Premier Division, but they are not going down without a fight, writes Dave Wright.

The already-relegated Sumas pulled off a shock 3-2 away win against sixth-placed Highworth Town on Monday, only their third league success of the season.

“We are now looking to finish the season strongly,” said reserve team manager Clive McNelly who was in charge of the team at The Elms.

Joint managers Dan Bateman and Matt Eggleston were not expecting their side to play on Easter Monday, and so had booked holidays.

“I have taken over for just one game, and obviously I was delighted how it went,” McNelly told the News after the game.

“Before they went out, I told the players they were too good to be in a league with only two wins behind them and so I was very pleased how they responded.

“There is still a lot of pride to play for and the players proved that today.

“I was really pleased with the effort they put in. They worked hard and deserved this win.”

McNelly added: “Yes, we did come under a lot of pressure and on another day their (Highworth) two forwards might have got another two or three goals. But we deserved a bit of luck, which we haven’t had much of this season, and it was our day today.

“The lads worked very hard and I thought deserved to win. We were struggling a bit for players today and there were three or four reserves out there, but they all played well.”

Sumas, whose last league win was against fellow strugglers Abingdon United in November, rocked Highworth – as well as shocking their own supporters – by taking an early two-goal lead through Jake Wheeler after eight minutes and Elliott Rushforth (pictured) four minutes later.

Their advantage was halved by Callum Parsons on 19 minutes, but Wokingham were still ahead at half time.

McNelly added: “I could not have asked for a better start. To score two goals going up the slope was terrific and it gave us a boost at half-time knowing it would be in our favour in the second half.

“Highworth did equalise and we came under a lot of pressure. Woody (Sean Woodward) had a great game between the sticks and some good saves and there was some last-ditch defending.

“Will Day was immense at the back, but the whole team deserves credit. Even after they (Highworth) equalised, the lads refused to give up and the way they fought back to get the winner and then hold out under pressure at the end was terrific.”

It has taken bottom-of-the-table Wokingham 32 games to take their points tally into double figures, so there was plenty of celebrations after the game.

McNelly continued: “This shock win will give everyone a boost and we are now looking to finish the season strongly by winning another two or three games and making our record look better than it is now.

“This is a good pick-me-up going into the game with Bracknell on Thursday and hopefully we can get another three points there.”

This game was originally scheduled for The Triangle but with Henley and Wokingham both short of staff it has been switched to Larges Lane, where Sumas recorded their first league win of the season last August.

Eggleston is due back in charge, but McNelly will be around to assist him. 
Wokingham return to Larges Lane the following Thursday, April 7, in the quarter-finals of the Bluefin Sports Supplementary Cup.

Bracknell booked their place by defeating Woodley United 6-1 last week.
Sumas are also in the last eight of the Reading Senior Cup, where they will be away to Binfield, with the tie scheduled for April 18.

“We are still in two cups and we want to win some more league points, so we still have plenty to play for,” said McNelly.