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| Southport 0 Woking 0: 12th August 2006 A lovely sunny day on the north-west coast. Some 70-ish fans from Woking made the trip and gave a good account of themselves, the locals were also very hospitable. Proper TINPOT. Southport are now full-time, have a new manager and have signed some half a dozen new faces. Woking on the other hand have kept the bulk of last seasons squad and added three new signings. Both teams finished in the bottom half with Southport many peoples tip for relegation at one stage. This was always likely to be an encounter where security and respect were mutually expressed rather than a up and at 'em battle-royale contest. Southport started the better with Carl Baker, a George Boyd of the north, giving new Woking left back Danny Bunce a lot of work to do. Woking were comfortable in midfield, playing a 4-5-1, but with no-one making forward runs the centre-field became turgid. Craig Macallister was often isolated and became inaffectual at linking play for a second phase attack due to nobody getting near him. This meant that we were still giving the ball away albeit with many players able to get back and defend. On 23 minutes Southport should have opened the scoring with Blakeman put through after a fluid build up but he scuffed his shot badly when 15 yards out and one on one with Jalal. The pressure was kept up by 'Port as Baker made our defense squirm and crossed to find Jalal again alert and positive. This then kick started Woking's first concerted efforts at attacking. First, Craig took a ball out of the sky on his chest, pivoted, ran onto the ball and crashed a shot in that was cleared for a corner. After the poor corner the pressure was kept up and play from Jackson via Shola found Berquez who dribbled and swerved through the centre of Port's defence only for a last ditch challenge to thwart his goal bound shot. Some belief and attacking nouse had been found and our stature in the game grew. A timely, stinging tackle from Hutchinson on Blakeman soon after, saw the latters' game come to a premature end. Whilst Southport regrouped Woking had a barrage of shots that were cleared away or saved by desperate defending, Fergie having a lob cleared off the line in the end. With the 1st half closing out the inevitable sucker punch came. Baker again was allowed to make it into the box and a poor challenge from Evans gave Southport a cast iron penalty. Boyd stepped up to smash his effort off Schwans left-hand post, the rebound flying to safety. Relieved, the Cards got to half time level but rue-ing their lack of a clinical finish. The second half had Southport starting the better of the two teams. A couple of shots and a lob that failed to trouble Jalal. However a good one-two between Fergie and Berquez across the box saw another goal line clearance made from Berquez's shot. Southport then brought off the tricky Baker and with that left Southport much the blunter in attack. This made Woking seem more in control and assertive. A free kick was won on the left hand side by Liam Cockerill. the resulting driven cross by Shola found Fergie at the back post but his header was again cleared off the line by the Southport rearguard. Shola had decided to become more physical in his challenges and began to boss the centre field more. The game ebbed and flowed for 20 minutes until Glenn opted to give Giuseppe Sole his Conference debut. Liam made way, he was solid today but doesn't look 100% fit. The Cards started to believe that they might be able to nick an historic away win but Southport also felt that the game was there for the taking too. Sloppy challenges by our defense saw some excellent free kick opportunities fall Southports way but fortunately they were profligate in front of goal. At the death Berquez picked up a silly booking, a facet that may see him the first to be banned in the Conference this year. The 0-0 scoreline suggests both teams will need to find their confidence in front of goal soon if a proper challenge for glory is to be considered. Woking were better playing a short passing game. They need to work on attacking set pieces more and work more on positioning, running patterns etc... for better attacking penetration. The distribution will get sharper and the return of Karl Murray perhaps for Evans will give Woking more pace and a higher tempo in the last third of the field. Not a bad start seeing as we always lose.... Woking (4-5-1): Jalal; Jackson, Hutchinson, MacDonald, Bunce; Oyedele, Berquez, Evans, Ferguson, L Cockerill (Sole 82); McAllister.
Man of the Match: Ollie Berquez Attendance: 1305 |
