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| Woking 2 Halifax Town 2: 3rd March 2007 Scorers With more fight and spirit than in previous games the Cards deserved all three points against a decidedly average Halifax Town but Tom Hutchinson's last minute own goal left him and everyone else gutted after an engaging second half. After some lacklustre recent performances it was pleasing to see a more determined Woking side battle away but it still left them without a win in five. There were changes a plenty with Hutchinson and Ruby returning as centre backs, Pearce moved across to left back and Osano completing the defence. Murray was given a start in midfield for once alongside Berquez and Bunce and Lambu were the wingers with McAllister and Sole up front, resulting in a more balanced and attacking front four. However, they wasted chances in the first half where as Halifax were clinical and it left the Cards 1-0 down at the break. Bunce's 12th minute dash opened up the defence but he skewed a right-footed effort hopelessly wide before, on 22 minutes, the visitors took the lead. Danny Forrest, who had already been expertly stopped by Hutchinson after 7 minutes, cut inside and let fly with a cracking pot shot from just outside the box, the ball cannoned off the post and off the back of Bittner before falling nicely for Felix Bastians to stab home from close range having got ahead of Osano. Other than the goal the game was rather uneventful for the first half an hour and it took until the 30-minute mark before it livened up as the Cards went in search of an equaliser. Karl Murray had his long shot deflected over the bar before McAllister had an excellent chance on 34 minutes as he rose above the defence to connect with Sole's free kick but his header went over the bar. Tom Kearney miss hit an attempted long shot shortly after when Lewis Killeen got past Ruby and Chris Billy knocked down his cross to his fellow central midfielder. As half time approached the Cards had three great chances to pull level. On 38 minutes, Murray played a lovely ball for Bunce to run onto and he jinked inside a defender before curling just over the bar with his right foot. Two minutes later and Berquez won a good header in midfield which was flicked on by McAllister to release Sole who despite a heavy first touch opened up a good opportunity, his strike beat Mawson but also the far post as it rolled agonisingly wide. Moments before the half time whistle Sole was also clumsily brought down just inside the area but the referee deemed it not worthy of a penalty. Woking continued with their attack minded play in the second half and after Stamp had headed over from a Forrest cross they got the equaliser in the 51st minute. Lambu drove down the right wing and despite being double marked quickly accelerated past Doughty to whip in a cross to the near post. It was partially cleared but fell nicely for Murray who latched onto it in a flash and guided an excellently placed left footed volley into the corner of the net. Just five minutes later and the Cards found themselves in the lead. Once again Lambu started the move, driving down the right wing again, this time aiming his cross to the back post. Bunce moved onto it and took his time before calmly laying the ball back to Berquez who hit it first time. His effort cannoned straight into a defender but deflected past a wrong-footed Mawson and into the net. The Cards didn't go on from there though and as usual slipped back into a more defensive mindset. Attacks were rare and they looked happy to sit on their lead. Luckily, Halifax didn't trouble the defence too much. Bastians blocked free kick was rocketed back at goal by Forrest but his effort went narrowly wide and Killen had a left footed volley go wide but other than that they were kept relatively quiet. In the last minute disaster struck though when a harmless throw-in looked to be going straight through to Bittner but he didn't shout and Hutchinson's flick diverted the ball past him and into the net. Hutch looked gutted after the final whistle, though Glenn said that Bittner had taken the blame for the goal. The team played well as a whole and they were unlucky not to get more from the game. Karl Murray looked assured and energetic and he probably deserved the man of the match award just ahead of Lambu who's second half performance and role in both goals was key. Woking (4-4-2):
Bittner; Osano, Hutchinson, Ruby, Pearce; Lambu (Marum 90), Berquez, Murray, Bunce; McAllister, Sole.
Man of the Match: Karl Murray - Had energy and drive in midfield. Moment of the Match: Karl Murray's well taken left footed volley. Attendance: 1419 |
