Wokingham & Emmbrook were on the verge of an upset on Saturday afternoon when they led Hellenic Premier Division Lydney Town 3-2 at the interval in the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Challenge Cup.
The game finished 4-3 to the Premier Division side in the end, but for Satsuma’s manager Clive McNelly it was a marked improvement for his side after an inconsistent start to life back in Hellenic League Division 1 East.
The Sumas had been beaten the previous weekend by newcomers AFC Aldermaston but McNelly has since added three new signings to his side and said following the Lydney game: “We had a long chat about how things were going prior to the cup tie.
“I told the players I was looking for a positive reaction from them after the Aldermaston game – attitudes and personal performances had to change from that one and to be fair, that’s exactly what they gave me.
“To me the performance was more important than the result – we were the underdogs in a cup tie against a team in the division above us – and I have to say that’s probably the best we’ve played all season.”
‘A huge lift’
McNelly has added Tom Williams from Binfield, Jake Bailey from Woodley United and Jordan Goddard from Henley Town and the Sumas boss felt the trio gave his players a huge lift.
Williams was on the scoresheet for Wokingham on his return after six appearances for Binfield while Jake Wheeler grabbed a double in the cup defeat.
Division 1 East
Woodley United announced their challenger credentials with an impressive 2-0 win at home to Bicester Town. The Fresh Prince and substitute Adam Nditi got the goals while AFC Aldermaston moved up to fourth and kept their good form with a 5-2 hammering of Holyport.
In the derby at Finchampstead Sam Green, Stuart Moss, Richard Thomas and Harry Swabey all scored in a 4-2 win over Sandhurst Town. Henry Lee and William Shaw replied for the Fizzers.
See the latest Hellenic League Division 1 East table, results and fixtures here.
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