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| Woking 3 Salisbury City 2: 24th March 2008 Scorers Kids for free now has a two in two record for 3-2 scorelines (with last minute winners as well) which is certainly good from an entertainment point of view and this time the result went the Cards way though it didn't look like it would. Many have said the results haven't gone Woking's way recently and the luck hasn't been on their side but today, they got it in abundance. Frank Gray made changes in what is a busy Easter period, changing his wide midfielders and Marvin's strike partner, allowing Green, Lambu and Marum to replace Sole, birthday boy Pattison and Norville. It was a cagey start to the game with both sides struggling for momentum and it was the visitors who went the closest first when Scott Bartlett's cross cum shot whistled across the area and just past the inrushing Liam Feeney, who was dangerous all day, causing problems for Gasson and Huthcinson. Woking hit back in the tenth minute when a neat move allowed Marum to swing in a cross which was just cleared and the resulting corner from Bunce flew right past everyone with Morgan inches away. As the match continued Salisbury began to dominate, their neater passing allowing them to keep possession for much longer periods. Worner had to dive to his left to hold an acrobatic effort from Aaron Cook on 16 minutes as the visitors pressure lead to chances. However, those chances were few and far between with the Cards defending well. Jonathan Bass had a long range attempt easily caught by Worner while Marum had a poor effort skew wide and a cross well stopped by keeper' Ryan Clarke, who himself was almost caught by Morgan following a poor backpass. Then, from nothing, Woking made the breakthrough. On 28 minutes, the Cards were awarded a free kick from quite a way out and Bunce's ball in looked relatively harmless until it made its way through to the back post where Morgan was waiting to pounce. Getting in front of his man, he beat Clarke to it and lifted it over him and it hit the underside of the bar before nestling in the net. The lead lasted a grand total of two minutes as some poor defending allowed Salisbury to work a neat move to get the equaliser. Matthew Tubbs started the move and when Feeney was played through in the area he did brilliantly to dink the ball over Worner and Rob Sinclair smashed the ball into the gaping goal from inside the six-yard box. Buoyed by their equaliser Salisbury continued to put the pressure on and Feeney was played through on the right side of the area and hammered a rocket at goal which skimmed the bar on 39 minutes. Three minutes later and a corner flashed across Worner's area just needing a touch to end up in the net but the Woking survived until half time. The visitors continued where they left off in the second half tough and the Cards looked stale, giving possession away cheaply. Sinclair wanted a penalty in the 48th minute when he went down in the area (though it looked like a ludicrous dive from the LGS) and Salisbury went on to take the lead with 51 minutes on the clock. Feeney's long floating free kick looked relatively harmless as it came into the area but Worner seemed to misjudge it and before he could take action the ball looped into the corner of the net. Woking looked stunned and couldn't seem to find a way back into the match. Damian Batt whipped a harmless free kick over on 58 minutes before Salisbury threatened to double their lead. On the hour, Tubbs latched onto a loose ball and drove a half volley at goal which was deflected over and the resulting corner fell to an unmarked (due to zonal marking) Cook whose header bounced agonisingly wide of the post. Frank made changes bringing on Pattison and Sole for Gray and Green and the substitution certainly had the desired effect after the birthday boy had got needlessly booked minutes after coming on. The dangerous Feeney raced past Hutchinson on 64 minutes but as he tried to flick it over Worner he could only skew it into the LGS and moments later Ed Asafu-Adjaye headed goalward from a corner but Worner was on hand to dive low and smother the ball on the line. Against the run of play, the Cards hit back. Morgan was given the chance to race into the box and Cook couldn't handle him, eventually hauling him to the ground and referee Mr Hopkins pointed to the spot. After meticulously making sure everyone was outside the area (he was very picky all day), substitute Giuseppe Sole stepped up and seemed put off by the dancing Clarke who dived to his left to save a poorly hit penalty. Cards fans groaned while the Chris Lane Terrace jumped about in delight before Mr Hopkins blew his whistle for a retake as Clarke was adjudged to have come too far off his line. Sole made no mistake this time, smashing the ball into the inside of the side netting and the Cards found themselves on level terms. It was a more even affair after that and fantastic to watch. The game flowed from one end to the other with both teams creating half chances in search of a winner. Frank swapped Marum for Norville up front on 72 minutes and his physical presence certainly helped. However, with about ten minutes left Woking were lucky not to have a penalty against them when Gasson was all over Cook in the area and hauled him down, out of sight of the referee. Woking had certainly ridden their luck but there was one more twist in the match. After a long ball over the top caught Hutchinson and Gasson standing, Feeney burst through on goal and tried to lift the ball over Worner but it went wide of the post and into the LGS. Moments later and Pattison had a snapshot saved inside the area before four minutes of injury time began. The Cards won a corner and Bunce whipped it in to the back post where Hutchinson rose to head back across goal and Jason Norville was on hand to head the ball off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net to score what proved to be the winner. Of course, in true Woking fashion they almost conceded deep into injury time when Worner's unconvincing punch was lifted goalwards but Bunce was on hand to chest it away before booting it into oblivion and minutes later the final whistle blew. Even Frank Gray admitted it was probably more than the Cards deserved but as he pointed out things haven't been going for the team recently and today they did. Two goals off the underside of the bar, a retaken penalty, a penalty not given for Salisbury plus a few missed chances, they will certainly feel aggrieved but Woking have been there too in the last few games. The performance wasn't the best but they did at least battle and that was what won them the points in the end. Woking (4-4-2):
Worner; Batt, Hutchinson, Gasson, Bunce; Lambu, Gray (Pattison 61), Quamina, Green (Sole 61); Marum (Norville 72), Morgan.
Man of the Match: Marvin Morgan - although quiet always looked a danger, scored one and won the penalty. Moment of the Match: Norville's last minute winner, announced over the tannoy as 'in time added on', yeah, just rub it into the visiting fans a bit more!. Attendance: 2,829. |
