After some late changes down to waterlogged pitches at Cantley Park, the Pythons rocked up to Elizabeth Park to face title favourites Wokingham Town in a hotly anticipated clash. Without centre midfield lynchpin Will Taylor, it was going to be a tough challenge but one that the Pythons were all up for!

Kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes due to some logistical issues caused by the late pitch change, and the Pythons kept warm and psyched themselves up to face a very large, physical opposition. Lining up in a familiar formation with Finley in goal, the back four of Tegwyn, Fabio, Josh and Benn and a midfield consisting of Daniel and Zabi out wide and Sam, Oli and Zach through the middle supporting Jackson up front.

The game started off tentatively, possession being fought for in the middle of the park and both sides fighting hard. It was obvious that both sets of players knew that there was potentially silverware riding on the this match and they were working hard to establish the upper hand. Unfortunately for Pinewood, it was Wokingham who found the first breakthrough - their powerful No.10 twisting and turning on the edge of the box, he stepped inside the Pinewood defence and simply passed the ball across the helpless Perryman in the Pinewood goal and into the side netting. Great forward play, 0-1 to Wokingham. Pinewood didn't let their heads dropped and started pressing Wokingham back - Jackson working relentlessly up front and creating chances - finding himself 1 on 1 with the Wokingham keeper multiple times and drawing a great save with one effort and seeing two others drift wide of the post. Daniel too was in on goal multiple times. his industrious work rate causing the Wokingham fullback nightmares, but again the positioning of the Wokingham keeper saw his efforts saves. Zach Whiting tried to work his magic with a couple of shots from distance but his usual wand of a right foot didn't connect in the way we have all got used to. Despite having 6 or 7 clear cut chances, a mix of very good keeping, last ditch challenges and bad luck saw us enter half time 1-0 down.

After some words of encouragement, the Pythons reemerged with Nevaan and Teddy on the wings and Leo on in full back and the game began to follow the same familiar path. Pinewood looking better in possession but Wokingham's power and pace meant that they always carried a threat. The game ebbed and flowed with more changes going awry for both teams before Jackson, Harry Kane-esque, picked the ball up deep and laid in Teddy who charged through on goal and this time made no mistake, sliding past the keeper for 1-1! We were back in it and Wokingham began looking nervous. Pinewood were forced into more changes with Sam Clark coming off injured and Oli Thompson stepping into the centre of midfield with Zabi being brought inside off the wing. Despite these changes we looked good, in spite of some questionable refereeing decisions causing some frustration both on the pitch and the sidelines. Time was ticking by and, on 65 minutes a Wokingham break was them win a corner on the far side. The ball was swung in and, with the Wokingham forward holding Finley in place with an illegal grab of the arm, the ball reached the Wokingham player who glanced a header home - heartbreak for the Pythons and, despite the appeals to the referee, 1-2 to Wokingham. The game effectively petered out from here, Pinewood feeling a little aggrieved not to have taken at least a point from a strong Wokingham side.

Despite the scoreline, we can be pleased with how we performed against the strongest side in the division. To a man, we fought hard and tried our best and luck just wasn't with us on the day. Finley was exceptional in goal, with solid distribution and fabulous encouragement and instruction from the 18 yard box all game. Tegwyn, Leo and Benn performed very well in full back, Fabio stuck to his task in the centre of defence with great support from Sam, Oli, Zabi, and Zach whoa ll spent at least a stint in the centre of midfield. Teddy, Daniel and Nevaan all carried a threat out wide and Jackson worked like a trojan up front on his own. But player of the match went to Josh - who for most of the game kept the giant centre forwards for Wokingham quiet with a super display of physical defending. Well played Josh.

Next week sees the Pinewood Derby! Pythons vs Predators, in what is always a closely contested fixture.