Welcome to Hell....errr or not!

Boreham Wood 0-1 Woking: 18 March 2006
by Mick

Scorers
Tom Hutchinson 78

Despite all the discussion and worry about potential trouble, there was certainly none in the ground for the first half of this FA Trophy semi final and the police were doing a fantastic and thorough job to prevent any. However, the reason we were all there was to see Boreham Wood and Woking slug out part one of this tie and it was a fairly entertaining game if lacking in quality.

The Cards started with the same team as last week against Grays which lined up as sort of a 4-4-2/4-3-3 merge with Murray out on the right but coming inside and McAllister up front but going back down the right to defend. Ferguson on the left ended up slotting into a left midfield position but got as far forward as possible when he could and he caused the home side problems in the first half.

So did McAllister who won everything in the air for most of the game and especially the first half an hour as the Cards went on the attack and started the better of the two teams. They peppered the Wood box with a number of free kicks and long throws before creating the first real chance of the game on 19 minutes. Justin Richards doing well to turn and release Ferguson down the left and although his first touch gave him a narrow angle he did force the keeper' into making an excellent one handed save at his near post.

The Cards continued to dominate but the game was scrappy affair on a narrow pitch and there was a lack of width on the right. Ferguson almost latched onto a cross mid way through the half but was stopped by a last ditch challenge from Moran, who in doing so almost put the ball into his own net, sending it just wide of the post. Moments later and another cross caused problems, this time in the Woking box and Jalal had to scamper across his line and make a last minute diving catch to prevent the opening goal when it looked a certainty.

This seemed to kick start Boreham Wood and it wasn't long before they went close again, the ball just dipping over Jalal's bar. They finished the half a lot stronger although Ian Selley released Ferguson again down the left but he wasn't quite quick enough to get clear, however, he did produce a shot across the keeper' but it was at a comfortable height for him to catch cleanly.

The second half started brightly for Woking. Richards was immediately in the action holding the ball neatly in the area before turning and rifling in a strong drive but it was well parried over. From the resulting corner, Macca had a header saved. The home side fought back with a couple of good moves and had one shot go narrowly over as the game was left in the balance.

On 65 minutes, Justin Richards rose to head a cross and it had to be tipped over as the Cards went searching for the opener. The game turned with about fifteen minutes left though when both teams had golden opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net and while Woking took theirs, Boreham Wood didn't. Shwan Jalal came rushing out to claim a loose ball and got two hands on it but it came loose and gave Cooper the chance to plant the ball in the empty net but he failed, rolling it wide when he should have scored.

Just moments later, on 78 minutes, Tom Hutchinson was passing the ball into the back of the net following another keeping error. He went up with the keeper' when a long throw was launched in the box and the ball dropped after a weak attempt to punch or catch. Hutchinson was quickest to react and found the net with ease. In the final minutes Karl Murray had a good chance to add a second on the break but he shot wide from the angle.

Overall, it was a battling display from both sides with the Cards extra bit of quality just coming through in the end. It was a good result and should mean Woking make the 2nd leg bearable and reach the FA Trophy Final. Having said that this is Woking and we have been known to mess it up in the past! I certainly wouldn't be counting our chickens just yet!!!

Woking (4-4-2/4-4-3/4-5-1 type thing): Jalal; Watson, Hutchinson, Nethercott, MacDonald; Smith, Selley, Murray; Ferguson; McAllister, Richards. Subs not used: Jackson, Blackman, Oyedele, Buari, Davies

Man of the match: Craig McAllister - won everything in the air.

Attendance: 1,511

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