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| Woking 1 Weymouth 1: 4th September 2007 Scorers 1-1 then. Why of course, it's the rules now. Four home games, four points, three finishing 1-1. Not the best of starts really and today was probably the most disappointing of the lot. Weymouth have had an indifferent start to the season and yet dominated most of the first half and could have been out of sight by half time had it not been for some last ditch defending and poor finishing. Woking started with an unchanged side and after some initial efforts on goal Weymouth started to take control. Conal Platt blazed over after three minutes and then Carl Gibbs headed wide and Jefferson Louis stung the palms of Nick Gindre. A long throw saw Kyle Critchell head towards his own goal but keeper' Jason Matthews had no trouble plucking it out of the air. Then Weymouth dominated. Platt had another shot blocked before, on fifteen minutes, Stuart Beavon took on Matt Ruby and rifled in a long range drive which had to be well tipped round his right post by Gindre. The resulting corner saw the keeper' looking less comfortable coming and failing to claim and after mayhem in the area Jom Barti had a great chance to convert from around the penalty spot but he put it wide. Less than two minutes later and Platt found Beavon in the area with a good pass and he drew out Gindre but was blocked off by a great tackle from Gasson. The ball fell to Coutts and he put his shot goalbound but Paul Lorraine was on the line to stop it from going in. Coutts had another chance moments later as he ran onto a loose ball held up but Louis and blasted over from a tight angle. Frank decided enough was enough after that and brought on Jerome Maledon for Goma Lambu and reverted back to 3-5-2. This shored things up a bit and the Cards looked more comfortable at the back for a little bit until the 26th minute. Gindre had to dive low down to his right to parry a long shot from Anton Robinson and Louis headed way over from the corner. Seven minutes later and Louis was fed a delightful ball from Platt and forced Gindre into a stunning left handed save to keep the visitors out. Marvin Morgan responded quickly and took on a difficult shot from a tight angle, which was well held by Matthews. There was just time for Beavon to have a shot blocked and Weatherstone to fire woefully wide from a free kick before the half time whistle blew and the Cards could go in feeling fortunate to be level at the break. However, they got their chance to take the lead early in the second half when awarded a rather dubious free kick on the edge of the box. Not that there was any injustice in this as the referee gave dubious free kicks for minor contact throughout the whole match, spoiling the game wherever he could. Besides, they more than deserved the lead. Paolo Vernazza swung over a mouth watering ball and Louis got ahead of his man to bury it into the back of the net with a comfortable header. With that I moved up to the KRE to sample some atmosphere with the crowd in full voice and being much more entertaining that the football currently on display. Having taken the five minute trip to get there though it appeared that the Cards had been spurred into action and it took no less than minute before Morgan broke onto a loose ball, rounded Matthews and unselfishly looked up to spot Sole on the run. He took it in his stride and guided a beautiful effort into the roof of the net to send the crowd into raptures. Suddenly, Woking came to life. On the hour Morgan and Sole combined again this time the latter threading through the former and it took a good smothering save from Matthews to keep his effort out. The Cards continued to rally forward. On 69 minutes the keeper' came for a lofted ball and Gasson did well to keep the ball in the area before Gibbs skewed over. Sole lashed tamely wide on 76 minutes after Vernazza had shot equally as inaccurately over at the other end. Weymouth had a succession of corners, which didn't lead to anything, and Morgan made a couple of surging runs, as the game seemed destined for another draw. Pattison had a left footed long-range curler saved and McCallum swung a shot just wide from outside the area as the game came to a close. Unfortunately, it ended very badly for the Cards with Bradley Quamina going down injured and having to be stretched off. The last thing Frank Gray needs is him missing but it looked quite serious unfortunately. Overall it's difficult to know what to say. It was certainly not a match the Cards deserved to win and the worrying defensive first half displays are becoming all too common, especially at home, and this was the worst of the lot. Having said that there is clearly some good individual last ditch defending in place to have kept it 0-0 at half time. The second half was much better as per usual but it wasn't until Weymouth scored that Woking started playing how they can do. It's been a solid start but these draws now need to be turned into wins at home and there was no evidence that this is going to happen after today. There is a lot of talent and youthful exuberance in this team to do very well; they just need to confidence and belief in themselves to do it. Woking (4-4-2):
Gindre; Ruby, Lorraine, Gasson, Bunce; Lambu (Maledon 19), Quamina (Green 90), Pattison, Sole ; Gibbs (Gray 76), Morgan.
Man of the Match: Jay Gasson - solid, accomplished defensive display. Moment of the Match: Sole's fantastically guided finish. Attendance: 1,532 |
