© 1997- 2010
| Hemel Hempstead 0 Woking 1: 15th December 2007 Scorers The Cards FA Trophy run began at Hemel Hempstead and unlike the FA Cup campaign, is going to last more than one game thanks to Kevin James second half strike. The suspended Matt Pattison and ill Giuseppe Sole made way for Goma Lambu and Liam Marum in an otherwise unchanged line up. Woking got off to a slow start on an uneven and horrible pitch to play on. The home side produced the early pressure while Gray fired tamely wide at the other end from outside the area. The first real chance of the match fell to Marum in the 13th minute as he chest down Lambu's neat chip in the area but he couldn't keep his cool and fired wide. Two minutes later and the Cards pint sized winger had an effort of his own which fizzed just wide of the post but the home side hit back well and pushed Woking back forcing some stout defending with some charismatic last ditch blocks. At the other end of the pitch, Marum had another good chance to put the Cards ahead on 22 minutes when Lambu got clear on the right and his low cross went through to the Woking striker only for him to miss the target once again. Just before half time both teams had chances to take the lead with Gindre having to make two smart stops at his near post, Gray shooting tamely wide from long range and Marum diverting another Lambu cross wide, this time with his head. Woking started the second half much better and early crosses from Marum and Bunce provided a threat before on 56 minutes, Lambu threatened down the right again and laid the ball back for Ruby to cross in. James rose well and looped a header over the keeper' and off the top of the bar. However, the home side hit back quickly and had two chances to take the lead themselves. On the 60th minute, a low cross went past Gindre, Hutchinson and Gasson but with an open goal the Tudors missed a sitter of a chance at the back post. Three minutes later and a corner saw an acrobatic bicycle kick heading goalbound until Gasson deflected it over with a saving header. The Cards hit back in the 66th minute forcing an incredible goalmouth scramble from a free kick, which saw shots from Marum, Lambu and Gray twice blocked, and Gatting's close range effort superbly blocked almost on the line. Finally, Woking made the breakthrough on 73 minutes when James found space in midfield and burst forward. Nobody closed him down and he picked his spot and fired a beautiful curler into the back of the net to give the Cards the lead. From then on they held on fairly comfortably though there were a couple of dangerous moments, most notably a deflected free kick which Gindre had to dive on bravely. With moments left Marum broke free but with just the keeper' to beat he fired it straight at his feet when he should have scored. The job was done and as Frank Gray has said, winning is a good habit to have. It was far from a good performance but the result was what mattered and the Cards got it done. The defence were typically strong (that's four clean sheets in four) and James had a good game in midfield while Lambu got crosses in from out wide. Marum was energetic up front and caused problems but must learn to take his chances. Gray, Green and Gatting's performance we'll skip over, though I think the abuse of Gatting was a little over the top. Having said that he's going back to Brighton now and I don't think that's a bad thing. Woking (4-4-2):
Gindre; Ruby, Hutchinson, Gasson, Bunce; Lambu, Gray, James, Green; Marum, Gatting.
Man of the Match: Kevin James - fantastic second half performance and great finish for the goal. Moment of the Match: Got to be the fantastic goal. Attendance: 453. |
