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| Woking 2 Aldershot Town 4: 12th January 2008 Scorers Any Woking fan hopeful that the Shots might field an under strength side for the Trophy were to be sorely mistaken as Gary Waddock put out a side that was not too dissimilar to the ones that beat the Cards twice in the league. Frank Gray brought in new signing Jason Norville to partner Morgan up front with Sole suspended and the midfield was re-jigged with Pattison and Quamina playing centrally and Gray filling in at right back with Ruby injured and Lorraine suspended. The Cards started positively enough, Pattison tearing down the right after just three minutes and crossing for Morgan who was stopped by some good defending from Rhys Day. However, Nikki Bull rushed out of his goal to pick up the ball, which had been controlled by Anthony Charles, and the referee gave the Cards an indirect free kick for a backpass. Green belted it goalward but Bull did well to get in the way of it and keep it out. After seven minutes, an enterprising Shots move released Ben Harding on the left side and he drilled the ball across goal but just wide of Gindre's left hand post. Moments later and Gindre was almost left in no mans land when some sloppy Cards play gave Jonny Dixon the chance to strike from outside the area but his lob sailed way over. On nine minutes, a neat Cards move allowed Pattison to play a one-two with Norville before he attempted to beat Bull from the edge of the area but produced a very tame effort, which was easily saved. He should really have been looking to play in Green who was unmarked to his left. Moments later, on ten minutes, Woking found themselves a goal behind when Louis Soares hit a potshot on the edge of the box, which bounced awkwardly across the goal and beat Gindre, creeping in at the far post. It could be said that Quamina could have done better and there wasn't enough of an attempt at making a block, but it was an excellent (or lucky, depending on your viewpoint) strike. However, Woking rallied and hit back almost immediately when on fourteen minutes, Norville got onto a long ball, shrugged off the attentions of Day and produced a cracking left footed piledriver from inside the area which gave Bull no chance. Woking continued with a dangerous free kick, which pinballed around the Shots area before being cleared and then Lewis Chalmers clumsily took down Adam Green, which sparked a mass bundle. Eventually the free kick was taken by Green but was well anticipated and easily saved by Bull. Another free kick on 28 minutes, almost brought about a Woking goal when Green put over a nice swinging low ball but none of Hutchinson, Morgan or Norville could divert it goalward. Joel Grant had a tame effort easily saved by Gindre on the half hour mark and three minutes later Lambu looped a long throw into Bull's arms before Morgan chased down the Shots keeper' on 39 minutes and deflected his clearance out for a goal kick. It was certainly end-to-end stuff and there was still time for John Grant to hammer a long-range effort wayward before the break. Just a minute into the second half and Morgan almost got away when he closed down Charles at the back but his block went just too far ahead of him, allowing Bull to get to it first. Woking continued to put on the pressure though and Norville struck a shot-cum-cross across the area moments later and almost fed in Morgan with a neat ball. Finally, the pressure paid and after excellent work form Hutchinson, Morgan broke away on 52 minutes. He held off the defenders and was just inside the area before he curled the ball past Bull and into the back of the net, to score a fantastic goal. They had chances to add to the lead too with Bull producing a rather unconvincing clearance and Norville miss kicking on the edge of the area. Then a defining moment of the game arrived when on 61 minutes. Morgan did tremendously well to sneak in ahead of Day and take the ball form him before cutting it back for Lambu, who proceeded to waste a good opportunity by blazing it over. Suddenly, after Marum replaced Norville, the Cards seem to lose momentum and two ridiculously bad decisions in five minutes were about to cost Woking a place in the 3rd Round. Hutchinson brilliantly deflected Harding's long shot over and the resulting corner was punched away by Gindre as the pressure mounted before on 71 minutes Danny Bunce refused to whack it clear and was caught trying to dribble out of defence. The Shots took advantage with Dixon feeding in Joel Grant who forced Gindre to save from the angle but the ball fell to Charles who lashed it home. On 74 minutes, just three minutes later, the Shots forced another corner, which was swung over, and Dixon picked it up at the back post. Gindre stupidly shot out of his goal and dived at the feet of the Shot's striker who was caught and duly went down with arms aloft. It was a blatant penalty and John Grant made no mistake to make it 3-2. The Shots added a fourth from a free kick with five minutes to go. It was taken short, and substitute Dean Smith was free in the area. He forced a good save from Gindre but Grant was on hand to tap home the rebound. There was a hint of offside about it but in truth the game was already won. It was a very frustrating afternoon for the Cards who once again probably deserved better for their efforts. It was a very promising performance but they made silly errors and the Shots took advantage. It's desperately disappointing to be out of the Trophy too and a shame that we had to draw such an on form side. For the neutral, it must have been a cracking game of football though. Woking (4-4-2):
Gindre; Gray, Hutchinson, Gasson, Bunce; Lambu (Maledon 86), Pattison, Quamina, Green; Morgan, Norville (Marum 66).
Man of the Match: Marvin Morgan - back to his best. Moment of the Match: There were many. It was a great game. Attendance: 2,368 |
