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| Woking 1 Crawley Town 1: 26th January 2008 Scorers Cash strapped Crawley Town, with one of the third or fourth worst budgets in the league according to Steve Evans, secured a point at Kingfield thanks to a goal from Kevin James (you know, that good player we had who left The Cards starting line up had one rather unexpected change from the one that took on Weymouth last week with Sole replacing Green on the left of midfield. It was a lively start to what was an action packed first half and a dangerous Crawley corner was well cleared by Hutchinson before Norville shot over, early on. In the fifth minute, Sole thrashed a long-range half volley into a defender and Pattison fired the rebound well over. The game continued at a frantic pace and Thomas Pinault hit an ambitious volley well over from outside the area in the ninth minute and moments later a quick Woking free kick saw Gez blast over, though the offside flag was already up. Finally, the action resulted in a goal and on 12 minutes, Pattison lost the ball in midfield carelessly and the ball was worked out wide to Jamie Stevens and he found an unmarked Kevin James at the back post who calmly nodded home with ease. Woking hit back in the 18th minute though when Sole tested Ashley Bayes from the edge of the area but the ex-Woking keeper' palmed away his dipping effort. Two minutes later and Tyrone Thompson hit a swerving left footed volley from distance but it was easy for Gindre to take, though he was made to scamper to his left three minutes later to keep out Jamie Cook's header. On 25 minutes, Lambu won a free kick on the right and a dipping free kick was almost reached by Morgan (despite having his shirt pulled) and a great block kept out Sole as the Cards came closer to an equaliser. On the half hour mark, a Crawley corner fell kindly to Gindre with Cook ready to pounce near by and his late attempt to get the ball caught the Cards keeper' in the stomach. Woking pushed forward in the 34th minute and a dangerous cross from Gray and a corner caused problems in the Crawley area before Morgan and Gez made two late challenges and deservedly picked up bookings. It was the visitors who looked more likely to add to their lead as half time approached as Paul Watson hit a free kick into the wall and Gindre also had to keep out a tame long-range drive. However, in the 3rd minute of added on time the Cards deservedly equalised. Bayes kept out a deflected Hutchinson header but Norville pounced on the rebound and he allowed Lambu to cross to the back post. Gez rose to head back across goal and just as it looked like it would be cleared Morgan poked a long leg in from nowhere and stole the ball away before turning and hammering the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. Everyone's favourite manager Steve Evans then came on to remonstrate with referee, supposedly for adding on too much time or for something about the goal, then proceeded to swear at the McDonalds stand on the way down the tunnel. The second half had less chances than the first but was still worth watching. Kieran Murphy headed over on 51 minutes from a free kick and four minutes later Hutch headed wide from a corner. Morgan probably had the best chance of the half on 56 minutes when he pounced on Glenn Wilson's poor back header but seemingly stretching he could only roll the ball along the floor into the keeper's arms. Eight minutes later and the lanky Cards striker was in the midst of things again, sprinting down the left and firing agonisingly across goal before minutes later the Cards had the ball in the net, Norville heading home Gray's cross from inside the area, only to be adjudged offside. In truth, the match sort of petered out from then on and neither side looked like scoring. Bunce smashed a free kick into the wall in the 71st minute and Pinault lashed a long-range effort wide seven minutes later. Frank brought on Marum for Norville with ten minutes left but despite him and Morgan threatening they never quite broke away and James had the final shot of the match with three minutes left, firing high and wide into the LGS. All in all it was a decent match and a draw was probably a fair result. It was a good performance from the Cards and hard to pick anyone out who had a bad game. Marv understandably picked up another man of the match award (he looks rejuvenated at the moment and turning down the Histon offer is looking like a shrewd move from Gray and the club). Woking (4-4-2):
Gindre; Gray, Hutchinson, Gasson, Bunce; Lambu, Pattison, Quamina, Sole; Morgan, Norville (Marum 79).
Man of the Match: Marvin Morgan - keeps up his high standards. Moment of the Match: Steve Evans throwing his toys out of the pram. Attendance: 1,697 |
