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| Woking 0-1 Accrington Stanley: 15 April 2006 Obviously, how Accrington Stanley won today is neither here nor there. The fact that the win had secured the Conference league title was all that mattered, and good luck to them, they deserve it. What the 1-0 score line doesn't show is how fortunate the Conference champions were to walk away with all three points. The second half produced fantastic entertainment and some decent football too but Woking will be left wondering how they didn't manage to score. Woking started with a strong line up, Richards and McAllister back up front with a strong back four including the retuning Jackson. Smith, Murray and Ferguson all started in midfield with Shola Oyedele given the nod in a central role next to Smith with Murray moving to the right wing. Accrington started the better of the two teams, they forced a succession of early corners, heading just over from one and kept possession well. Andy Todd's swinging cross was met at the back post by Gary Roberts but he angled his left footed drive wide when he should have hit the target as they continued to attack. On 23 minutes it looked as if Todd had won Stanley a penalty, running in from the wing, a clumsy tackle left him stumbling over and the referee blew up for a free kick when it looked very much to be inside the area. Roberts rifled in the free kick but Nethercott was on hand to thump it clear with a header. Woking got themselves back in the game with some neat play, mixing direct balls towards the front two with shorter, smarter build up play well and Richards almost set up his striker partner, McAllister but the latter was closed down quickly and the shot blocked. Simon Jackson's run down the right also produced a threat but his cross was too lofted and gave keeper' Robert Elliot ample opportunity to pluck it out of the air. On 38 minutes, against the run of play, the visitors struck, following a free kick. A long-range effort from Mark Boyd was cleverly or luckily (probably both) deflected on by Paul Mullin and found it's way past Shwan Jalal's out stretched hand and into the bottom corner. This knocked the Cards back and Accrington continued to have the better of it leading up to half time, having a lot of possession although the defending managed to cut out any clear cut chances. Woking came out a more determined side for the second half and were quite happy to venture forward putting a lot of pressure on Stanley. They got men forward, made good use of free kicks and corners and were soon looking a threat. They survived early on when Andy Todd hit wide after working himself into a good position but Smith went close for the Cards with an acrobatic and ambitious diving header which he diverted just wide. One corner led to a clearance being hammered back in by McAllister and being suspiciously blocked by what appeared to be a hand but the referee ignored it. Later on and another handball in the area was dismissed as the ball bounced awkwardly and almost led to an own goal. Finally, handball in the box was given, and correctly too when Simon Jackson's cross was impeded by Paul Mullin's arm. What was to occur in the five-minute spell after was pure drama. Justin Richards missed the penalty as Elliot guessed where it would go and got down well but Richards was quickest to the rebound and hammered it past him only to be stopped by the referees whistle. He ordered a retake after noticing encroachment. Rico went the same way with the second penalty and so did the keeper', diving low to his left he saved again but also gave the striker another chance to finish from the rebound but the shot was tame and he saved again before the ball was pummelled clear. In the aftermath of it all Fergie beat his man out wide and produced a fantastic cross, which Murray met with a storming run and flashed a bullet header at goal which was miraculously kept out on the line but seemingly with an arm. The referee let play continue with the Woking contingent screaming for either a goal or another penalty. Smith and MacDonald were both booked for protesting to a reckless challenge on Murray as the half wore on and incensed the Cards looked more and more likely to pull a goal back. The last ten minutes saw Woking go all out for an equaliser. They kept possession well, got the ball out wide, flung in crosses, a couple of very good ones by substitute Buari caused problems. Ferguson met one at the back post but could only head over. However, it just wasn't to be and after much huffing puffing the final whistle was blown and the Accy fans started celebrating. Let's hope we are saving the luck for the 14th May. Woking (4-4-2): Jalal; MacDonald, Hutchinson, Nethercott, Jackson; Ferguson, Smith (Buari 80), Oyedele, Murray; McAllister, Richards. Subs not used: El-Salahi, Blackman, L Cockerill, Davies Man of the match: Shola Oyedele Attendance: 2,665 |
