Sumas perfect start continues

Bicester Town 2 Wokingham and Emmbrook 3

DAN BATEMAN’S dream return as Wokingham and Emmbrook boss continued with a 3-2 win at Bicester on Saturday.

Despite not playing a home match yet due to Lowther Road being used for cricket, Sumas have now won three matches out of three to kick-start their Hellenic Division One East campaign.

The latest success came in an entertaining game in Oxfordshire with goals from Ben Knight, Matthew Lambert and Sam Lawrence while midfielder Jordan Blake ended the game in goal after an injury to keeper Ashley East.

Bateman said he would be happy taking six points from this string of away games, but Wokingham, who finished down in 12th last season, have made a flying start.

Sumas began brightly at The Playing Fields with Lambert clipping the crossbar early on against another side who also came into the fixture with a perfect record of two wins from two.

Bicester went close themselves before

Lambert broke the deadlock.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Daniel Monk was shown a straight red card on 39 minutes.

And Sumas quickly made the most of the man advantage, going 2-0 up when Jack Gibbs crossed for Knight to head in his fifth goal of the campaign.

But Bicester reduced the arrears before the break with Elliott Powell netting from the penalty spot.

And the 10 men levelled on the hour mark thanks to a fine Ricaro Benjamin finish.

However, parity did not last long as Wokingham went down the other end and earned a penalty of their own following a foul on substitute Elliott Rushforth and Lawrence made no mistake from the spot.

Despite having the extra man, Wokingham were dealt a blow shortly afterwards when goalkeeper East was forced off, meaning Blake took the gloves for the closing stages.

Ben Broadhurst, who returned to the club this week after a brief spell with AFC Aldermaston, was introduced from the bench and helped close out a 3-2 win.

Sumas have no game scheduled for this weekend with their next fixture set to be at home to leaders Penn and Tylers Green on September 9. SUMAS: East (C. Scope); Carter, Byrne, Day (c), Blake; Lambert (Broadhurst), S. Lawrence, N. Bateman (Rushforth), Gibbs; L. Scope, Knight.

Subs not used: D. Bateman, Williams.

Attendance: 72

SUMAS RESERVES picked up their first win of the Thames Valley Premier League season, beating Newbury 2-1 thanks to goals from Matt Booth and Toby Morgan.