‘We deserved more’ says Sumas boss Bateman
Wokingham and Emmbrook 2 Virginia Water 3
“WE COULD’VE easily got a result in both of the games.”
That was the verdict of Wokingham boss Dan Bateman, whose side suffered a second defeat to Virginia Water in consecutive weekends.
Sumas lost 3-1 in the reverse fixture and although they went closer at Lowther Road thanks to goals from Charlie Dean and Tom Williams, they again left pointless.
And Bateman, who was absent from the dugout for Saturday’s 3-2 defeat, says fine margins are costing his side after their fifth defeat on the spin.
“The feedback that I got from Clive (McNelly) and
Jamie (Shepherd), who were in charge, was that we probably did enough to deserve a draw,” Bateman told The Wokingham Paper.
“All parties agreed that a draw would’ve been a fair result but we’re just not getting the rub of the green at the moment.
“Little decisions in games, little things are going against us and we’re getting punished for every mistake.
“That’s what happens in football when things are going against you.”
There were wholesale changes from the defeat at Virginia Water the previous week with six in total as Dan Carter, Will Day, Steve Fairchild, Ben Knight, Sam Lawrence and new signing James Charlton all started.
And Sumas began well, taking an early lead through Tom Williams.
But Virginia asserted their authority before the break, going 2-1 up through goals from Lorenzo Tomasso Di Felice and Adam McNamara while Fairchild had to be alert to deny a third.
Wokingham responded well after the restart, going close on numerous occasions before eventually levelling up the game when Charlie Dean lashed in his first goal for the club.
But the visitors quickly went 3-2 up through McNamara again and could have won by more had they not missed a late penalty.
“Virginia Water are very good at what they do,” said Bateman.
“They’re big and strong, they’re effective, they’re relatively direct and they’ve got some really good players.
“I’d expect Virginia Water to be challenging up the top come the end of the season when the medals are given out.
“It was a good test for us. With a little bit of a rub of the green, we could’ve easily got a result in both of the games.
“We’re not far away. We’re not doing an awful lot wrong, but we’re just going through a little bit of a bad patch at the moment where things aren’t happening for us.”
Sumas travel to face Wallingford Town on Saturday.
SUMAS: Fairchild, Day (c), Charlton, Newlove, Carter, S. Lawrence, Williams, Dean, Pearson, Rushforth, Knight. Subs: Winship, J. Lawrence, Hood, Robson. Attendance: 72.