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| Woking 1 St Albans City 2: 1st January 2007 Scorers What a load of ******* ********. I was going to just leave it like that to be honest but I shall try and delve, painfully, into the reasons why it was a load of, well, you know. Injuries forced Cockerill to start Chris Sharpling and Shola Oyedele as straight swaps for Craig McAllister and Neil Smith, and he used his 'injury woes' as one of his many pathetic excuses in a usually vague and evasive post match interview. Despite Shola's casual dawdling performance he was not the only reason the Cards succumbed to defeat and Sharpling was lively and energetic before tiring in the second half. In fact, it was his intelligent poaching that put the Cards a goal up with just five minutes gone, having already forced the keeper' to clear outside his area by attacking Sole's delightful through ball moments earlier. Steve Evans seized the ball in midfield and produced a purposeful run before slotting the ball through for Taylor, whose shot on the turn was powerful and accurate enough to force keeper' Bastock into a low parry, which rebounded to the feet of Sharpling, who made no mistake with his finish. However, the Cards start was not continued and St Albans came into the game. On 11 minutes, Matt Hann's cross, which was deflected by Bunce, landed kindly for Ram Marwa inside the area who drilled an effort wide of the target. Dean Cracknell had his shot in the area bravely blocked by Matt Ruby and Hann caused more problems on the right wing, skipping past Sole and driving a long range effort over before forcing Hutchinson into making a fantastic last ditch tackle, though he was adjudged to be offside. It wasn't like the Cards didn't have their breaks, Sharpling and especially Taylor causing problems with their pace but they were quick breaks and St Albans had a lot of possession. They also created more than enough chances to be level, though the Woking defence did their best to stop any real clear-cut chances on goal. On 28 minutes, a quick free kick allowed Elliot Benyon to feed Lee Clarke, who managed to turn in the area. He got a shot away, but Murray deflected his goalbound effort behind for a corner. As half time neared the action was a little scrappier and the game became a midfield battle. On 36 minutes, a half chance fell to Clarke when the ball broke to him on the edge of the area, but his first time shot was easy for Jalal to get to and he held it comfortably. On the half time whistle, Bastock had a little more difficultly in getting to Oyedele's sharp left footed drive following an excellent run by Taylor but he still kept the effort out. The key moment of the game arrived on 52 minutes, the Cards had made a bright start to the second half and the ever impressive Taylor turned superbly in the corner on the left flank, cut inside and drilled a shot from the edge of the area past Bastock and off the base of the post. Three minutes later and Oyedele dawdled on the ball in midfield, was quickly robbed and Dean Cracknell threaded a perfectly placed through ball into the path of Marwa who took his time in slotting the ball past Jalal and into the back of the net to make things level. From then on the Cards were atrocious. They had hardly been firing on all cylinders before and were fortunate to be a goal up at half time. Sole hit an ambitious effort from long range that fizzed over the crossbar and Murray had a drilled free kick (won by another mazy run from Taylor) saved by Bastock but that was all they could manage. Constantly, launching long balls toward to Taylor and Sharpling. An excellent tactic for two strikers under 6ft. Jalal twice had to come running out of his box, possibly unwisely, because the Cards had given up possession and let St Albans onto them. On 68 minutes, having rushed out to snuff out the danger, he had to go sprawling back across goal to keep out an effort from Clarke just before it crossed the line. Jalal had to produce another solid save at his near post before Damian Batt stupidly took out Taylor as he sped away down the left. There was no need and he was rightly shown a second yellow card. Anyone would think it was Woking who were down to ten men though as they failed to capitalise and following more carelessness in midfield Tom Davis escaped and lashed in a great strike from 20 yards, leaving Jalal helpless. Woking's fightback was non-existent. Few players can walk away with much praise, Jamie Taylor is certainly one, who won the man of the match award for me hands down, though Hutch was, as usual, inspiring. Cockerill once again trawled out excuses, mainly injuries, as previously stated, but also that, guess what, we are a young side that is still learning. While this is partly true it's getting ridiculous. Most of these players have been together for over a year now, thanks to him resigning them, are they ever going to grow up, or have we got a squad of Peter Pan's on our hand. Maybe we should start playing Tinkerbell… Woking (4-4-2):
Jalal; Murray, Hutchinson, Ruby, Bunce; Lambu, Evans (Ferguson 74), Oyedele (S Cockerill 78), Sole; Sharpling (Sankoh 74), Taylor.
Man of the Match: Jamie Taylor - energetic, quick, skilful, full of determinatio.nAnother great find by GC, shame that's all he's good at. Moment of the Match: Sharpling Scoring...and going Home...again. Attendance: 2,178 |
