Season 1998/99

Wokingham finish in 18th place with 46 points. Won 14,Drew 4,and lost 24
Top scorers were Puckett 12, Wood 7, Lawrie 4, Campbell 4, Leacock 4.
Wokingham scores always first, scroll down for league + cup results.

Town started the new season with a new manager and full of hope that they could make a swift return to division 1. Although many or the previous season's players had left it was still thought that the team had a genuine chance of promotion. As can be seen from the results below the season could have started slightly better, 14 consecutive defeats in the first 14 games of the season is not championship material. Town reached an all time low when only 10 players turned up to the game at Horsham and one of the traveling supporters had to play, a 7-0 loss ensued. Many new players were brought in, many failed. Young hopefuls were given too much responsibility in the team and the freefall into division 3 seemed inevitable. The most disappointing thing on my part was the fact that we had gone out of all the major cup competitions during this run, it is vital to play well at the start of the season as this is when most of the cup matches are played. If we played like we did in the second half of the season during the first few months we woyuld have had some lengthy cup runs. Our biggest chance of glory last season would have been the F.A Vase. Given a bye to the 2nd round proper, Town were only 6 games from Wembley and will be again next season. That apart you might think that we were a bit unlucky to lose 14 games in a row, no chance. The team was absolutely useless. Upfront we were making next to no opportunities while the defence was merely mediochre. The first win came away to relegation candidates Barking on the last day of october, the second 5 weeks later, then came the wonder run after Christmas that was to see our safety. Mellor had finally put together a team of good players and settled on it. Ex-southampton player Dave Puckett was brought in, and it was this that was to make the difference. Working in the 'hole' Puckett could pull the strings behind the ever improving strikers of Wood and Campbell. Marchant was finally back from injury on the right and the impressive Holzman took charge of the left wing. Website player of the season Leacock, captain Turner and Osbourne gave us the first defence in the last few years that could defend and Town began to pick up the points. Since the draw in january away at title hopefuls Harlow, Town averaged the same amount of league points from the remainder of the season as 5th placed Hemel Hempstead did from all their 42 games. Our form was nearly that of a promotion team ! Notable preformances from this run included wins away at top 6 teams Windsor, Banstead and Hemel Hempstead. Town were safe after the win at Hertford in mid april and finshed the season 15 points clear of the bottom 3. This amazing to think considering the start we had. We had even stoped as low as getting as half page in 'The Guardian' about our record run of losses in October. The season came to a fitting end at the last ever game at our 93 year old ground Finchampstead Road, a 2-0 win over champions Bedford. A great preformance and the good spirits were heightened by the descisions of many of the players to stay on for next season. With the team that finished this season surely sucess is due for next. Wokingham expects.....

Cup results: