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| Stevenage Borough 1 Woking 1: 9th October 2007 Scorers When the fire alarm went off at 7.30, I thought this might be a bad day and it was. So you'll have to forgive me in thinking we were doomed upon arriving at Broadhall Way, late incidentally, but just in time to see Daryl McMahon swing a peach of a cross into the path of Craig Dobson, who calmly guided a strong side foot into the back of the net. From the on I was pleasantly surprised. The only change from the Farsley match was the return of Marvin Morgan for the unavailable Paul Hakim. Woking hit back after the home side's early goal and on eight minutes, James hit a swerver which went narrowly but rather tamely over the bar following a Bunce cross. Moments later and a roaming run from Morgan ended with a skewed long-range shot following a fierce challenge on the edge of the box. Stevenage replied on eleven minutes, when Steve Morison looped a header just over after getting up above Gasson. It had Gindre backpedalling but never really looked like beating him. A minute later and a short corner was rifled in low by Dobson and Morison latched onto it just inside the six yard box but could only divert it wide when he should have at least got it on target. It was a let off for the Cards and they were fortunate again on 14 minutes. John Martin was set-up on the edge of the box following a neat run from Mitchell Cole but Quamina, Lorriane and Gasson all formed a diving wall in front of him and he blazed over. Woking struck back on eighteen minutes. Pattison roamed forward and had a shot deflected by Mark Arber and the resulting corner was curled in by Bunce and met by Ruby at the back post. He forced a good save from Julian, but the Stevenage keeper' could only parry out into the area and Ruby was quickest to react and guided a stooping header into the net. Morison lashed a long shot over on 22 minutes and on 26 minutes a corner kick flashed right across the Gindre's six-yard box as the home side tried to get back in front while at the other end Gatting had an long range effort go wide. On the half hour mark, Pattison carried the ball forward once again and this time teed up James for a long shot, which whistled just over. A minute later and a superb long ball forward from Lambu was taken down by Gatting and his long range curler went just past Julian's left hand post with him sprawling across the goal. A 33rd minute Bunce free kick also caused mayhem in the Stevenage penalty area and Gasson rose twice to head into the danger zone but the home side did enough to keep it out. On 38 minutes, McMahon miss hit a volley inside the area but Cole's neat cross found Morison but he could only send his header wide of Gindre's left hand post. That was the last real effort of the half and 1-1 seemed a fair scoreline at the break. Stevenage started the second half well, Dobson being impeded by Gasson on the byline. The Cards defender rightfully received a booking and Martin set-up McMahon on the edge of the area who produced a swerving shot, which was well parried by Gindre. Woking came back through Morgan, who headed at goal on 51 minutes from a Bunce cross though was adjudged to have been fouling Nick Henry. Moments later and Gatting got up to head a Lambu cross at goal but it was easy for Julian to pluck out of the air. Another Lambu cross nearly found Gatting not long after and Stevenage made a double change on 60 minutes. It almost worked straight away when a McMahon free kick was headed over. Gatting had an effort blocked but on 64 minutes Morison got ahead of Gindre and pulled the ball back into the box. Cole diverted it towards the open goal but Ruby was on hand to clear off the line. Woking hit back straight away when a Gatting cross was just met by Morgan, who poked in a long leg to get ahead of his marker and Julian, but unfortunately, he could only guide it wide. The match was end-to-end stuff and James and Dobson both went close with long-range efforts. In the 77th minute, a tired Pattison made way for Maledon and Gindre was forced to react quickly to keep out Dobson, smothering well. Moments later and Morison headed just over from a dangerous looking cross. Sole came on with nine minutes to play and immediately made an impact, winning a free kick. James whipped it in and Sole met it about 12 yards out but his flick went kindly into Julian's arms. Maledon tested Julian from long range on 84 minutes and a minute later Morgan and Sole got away but the former found himself offside when played in. Substitute Tesfaye Bramble got up to head at goal on 88 minutes but Gindre got down low to hold well. Morgan skewed a left footed long shot well wide and Maledon almost got onto the end of a Lambu cross. He fired a long shot wide before the end as well, but it was the Cards left hanging on in the final minutes with Bramble causing problems again. It was a deserved point in the end and a very positive result. It was probably the Cards best overall performance of the season and every player seemed to have a good game with several standing out including James, Bunce, Lambu, Pattison, who ran his guts out, and my man of the match Ruby, who was sensational throughout. It will be important to follow this up with another good performance and hopefully result against York City on Saturday. Woking (3-5-2):
Gindre; Lorraine, Ruby, Gasson; Lambu, James, Pattison (Maledon 77), Quamina, Bunce; Gatting (Sole 82), Morgan (Gray 90).
Man of the Match: Matt Ruby - scored, cleared one off the line and was generally superb. Moment of the Match: Matt Ruby's celebration. Attendance: 3,007 |
