Sumas end season on a high

Wokingham and Emmbrook 5 AFC Aldermaston 0

SUMAS rounded off their league campaign with a five-star show at Lowther Road.

The club’s future for next season is in doubt ahead of the expected Hellenic League reshuffle, but they signed off in style thanks to five second-half goals to rout Aldermaston.

Sam Lawrence bagged two while George Marsh, Ben Broadhurst and Dan Carter were also on target.

Sumas went close to taking an early lead as Chris Newlove fired just off target, which led to an Aldermaston counter-attack, only for Alex Badshah to head wide.

Lee Wheeler also curled a shot wide as the visitors looked to take a lead into the break, but they could not find a way through.

And the misses were punished with the hosts going in front shortly after the restart, courtesy of a Lawrence header.

That advantage was doubled just before the hour mark when Broadhurst netted from close range and Byrne almost added a third, cannoning a shot off the crossbar.

Sean Woodward had to be alert in the Sumas goal to preserve his clean sheet and in turn set up a platform for his side to charge over the line with late goals from Lawrence, Carter and Marsh.

Dan Bateman’s men end the season in sixth place in Division One East on 41 points, six places and 13 points better off than 2016/17.

Sumas are still looking to end their campaign with silverware with a clash against Highmoor Ibis in the Reading Senior Cup still yet to be rearranged after being called off in February.

SUMAS: Woodward; Carter, Cummuskey, Day (c), Dean, Newlove; Marsh, Byrne, Broadhurst; Lawrence, Rushforth. Subs: Harris, Robson, Winship, Scope. Attendance: 52