MANAGER Dan Bateman is convinced the future of Wokingham & Emmbrook FC is much brighter now the floodlights have been switched on at their Lowther Road ground in Emmbrook, writes Dave Wright.

His Sumas marked the occasion with a 2-0 win over AFC Aldermaston in Hellenic League Division One East last Friday evening in front of a crowd of nearly 200, one of their biggest for a long time.

After the game, Bateman beamed: "We are back home and we have floodlights. I could not be happier.

"The club now have a solid foundation on what they can build on, which is really great.

"I have been involved with the club for 20 odd years, and I was there in 1999 when they lost the Finchampstead Road ground.

"Since then, a lot of people have had to fight to keep this club alive and tonight's result, if not quite the performance, was for them."

Sumas were not quite at their best, but a goal in each half from new signing Adam Edwards and Jake White saw them collect all three points against a tough Aldermaston side.

They were following up their 2-1 away midweek victory over Penn & Tylers in the opening round of the Bluefin Sports Cup.

"Last Tuesday, we played some really good football," said Bateman.

"We kept our shape well and looked good. But on Friday we struggled at times, which could have been due to the conditions and maybe also to the occasion.

"Defensively, we were excellent, but we never really got our passing game together.

"I felt that if we kept a clean sheet we would win the game, as I knew we were capable of scoring even though we were not playing well."

The manager added: "Our first goal under lights was a hell of a strike. Adam, who joined us pre-season, has come in and done really well. He was probably our man-of-the-match on Tuesday and on Friday he has scored a great goal.

"He has been a very good addition to our squad, but we are really happy with all the business we did during the summer as we brought in some experienced and quality players."

More from Friday night's game inside