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| Woking 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 2: 9th September 2006 Scorers It's not often that in the last few months any Woking game could be called scintillating, or something similar. However, this entertaining cracker of a game shows just why Cards fans wanted the 4-4-2 formation because even though we are more prone to concede we are much more likely to score. Eight goals in three games and seven points has shown this and more performances and results like this will see the crowds coming back. After an even first twenty minutes which saw play move from one end to the other it was the Daggers that struck first, though when Anwar Uddin's free kick hit the back of the net, it was a pure goalkeeping error. Shwan Jalal completely mistimed his jump and the harmless long ball forward went over his head and bounced into the unguarded net without any intervention. Jalal was clearly gutted but redeemed himself throughout he game, not allowing the mistake to get the better of him and he made a couple of crucial saves. The Cards looked unsettled by the goal and the Daggers seemed to come forward. A number of last-ditch clearances kept them at bay as they posed a threat, especially from set plays. However, Woking soon found their feet again and began mounting their own attacks and produced the best chance of the match midway through the half. Steve Evan's deflected long shot fell into the path of Jon Nurse who beat the goalkeeper to it and tried to turn it goalwards but it was stabbed away before a scramble ensued and finally the ball flew high over the bar. On 32 minutes, the Cards grabbed a deserved equaliser. Karl Murray sliding in Nurse who turned the ball back for McAllister. His first shot was saved but him and Giuseppe Sole went for the rebound and it went in off the latter, though there was some suspicion of offside, the young striker even admitted he thought he was after the game. He seemed rather desperate to confirm that it was his goal more than anything else! Sole almost added his second before the end of the half as Steve Evans played him in down the left and he turned his marker before curling an effort just over from inside the penalty area. Evans himself hit a rasping effort long range effort that flew just over while at the other end the Woking defence were struggling at corners and a number of times the ball was headed narrowly wide or was blocked. At half time, 1-1 was a fair reflection of the game. The Cards started the second half on the attack and Gary MacDonald was almost an unlikely scorer with an ambitious chip shot from outside the area, having received a short pass from Neil Smith. His effort took a one handed tip over from Tony Roberts to keep out and the resulting corner found Sole at the back post but he skewed his effort into the stands. Another sweeping passing move gave McAllister the chance to let fly from just outside the area but his tame effort never had enough power, or accuracy, though almost fell to Sole at the back post. Moments later and Murray hit another long shot wide, this time with more than enough power, but not quite enough accuracy. At the other end, the Daggers had a header go narrowly over before a poor ball from McAllister set them on a speedy break which ended with Sam Sloma having a great chance to give the visitors the lead but thanks to some good closing down from Evans he had little time to line up his effort and shot straight at Jalal who did well to parry. Then the Cards should have taken the lead, Sole turning his man once again on the left wing and unselfishly finding McAllister with a thoughtful ball across the box but he miscued his finish and sent the ball into a defender with his first touch when he should have scored. Shwan Jalal did more to make up for his mistake when he saved from Craig Mackail-Smith with an excellent save from a powerful volley and then pounced on a rebound that looked like it was going to be a certain goal. The end to end game continued as Nurse and McAllister both had headers go just wide before Ferguson's cross eventually fell to Nurse in the area but he scuffed his volley wide. As the Cards continued to press McAllister's header was so almost converted by Hutchinson but Roberts dived on it at the last second. Then disaster struck in the last minute, a cross hit Hutchinson on the arm and the referee pointed to the spot. Cliff Akurang stepped up confidently and found the back of the net by hammering it into the bottom right corner and sending Jalal the wrong way. However, there was still time for the Cards to rescue something and Hutchinson made up for his earlier handball when he flicked on Neil Smith's launched power throw and looped it over the top of Roberts and into the empty net. Dagenham could barely kick off before the final whistle and the goal was no less than the Cards deserved. A draw was probably a fair result and the Daggers seemed a very organised and decent side that will no doubt do well this season. The Cards have to keep doing what they are and this could well be the beginning of a good run. Fingers crossed! Woking (4-4-2):
Jalal; Murray, Hutchinson, MacDonald, Bunce; Lambu (Ferguson 58), Evans, Smith, Sole (Sankoh 85); McAllister, Nurse.
Man of the Match: Gary MacDonald Moment of the Match: Tom Hutchinson's last minute equaliser - a terrific end to a sensational match. Attendance: 1724 |
