CROYDON 0 WOKING 2
Surrey Senior Cup, Round 2
26 November 2008
This was one of those encounters when the higher level side, once in front, seemed to find it hard to motivate themselves to drive on and really finish off the opposition. So, the Cards, 2-0 up at half-time once they had got into their stride, failed to capitalise in the second half on their superiority and therefore always left the door ajar for the Trams to pull a goal back. Fortunately, a lack of a cutting edge on the hosts? part, plus some decisive interventions, snuffed out any chance of a comeback. Phil Gilchrist can therefore regard it as a ?job done?.
Woking lined up with Nick Gindre in goal; the back four were Patrice Konan, Paul Lorraine, Dan Sintin and Danny Bunce; in midfield were Joel Ledgister, Matt Pattison, Bradley Quamina and Delano Sam-Yorke; and Charlie Moone and Giuseppe Sole were up front.
The Cards immediately went into attack but took some while to find any rhythm, with most of the threat initially coming from advances down the left by Danny Bunce, who also put in several good crosses and one decent long-range effort which flew over the bar. It was Bunce who inspired the first quality move of the half, bisecting the Trams? defence with a lovely ball into Ledgister?s path. Joel lined up his shot but drove the ball wide of the far post.
Woking began to pass the ball around more convincingly but the opening goal, in the 23rd minute, came out of the blue. Suddenly from a block a high ball fell between Moone and the Trams? keeper. Charlie just got their first and stuck out a leg to push it past the keeper and into the net. In their best period of the match the Cards then fashioned several more chances in quick succession, with Sole looking determined, quickly spinning away from his markers and Moone showing some nice touches. Following a powerful Sam-Yorke run Sole just failed to nick the ball over the keeper; Pattison?s weaving run was then foiled at the last gasp; and Moone saw a decent header tipped over.
The Cards got the second goal their football deserved on the half-hour mark when Moone cushioned the ball back deftly into Sole?s path and he lashed the ball into the net.
Gindre had not been wholly inactive in the Woking goal and had to make a smart save shortly afterwards from Reggie Savage, who turned and shot skilfully in one move. At the other end, Lorraine responded with two headers and Sole shot over his shoulder but several attacking moves down the right were wasted as Ledgister put three crosses in succession behind the goal.
Half-time: Croydon 0 Woking 2
There isn?t a great deal to say about the second half performance. Hopes that the Cards might push on and rack up a convincing scoreline proved unfounded as they struggled to find the rhythm and intent which had been evident from about the 20th minute onwards in the first period.
A Bunce error opened the way for a Savage shot, but it was way over ? as was Sole?s free-kick a few minutes later. The Trams attacked more successfully than they had in the first half, getting to the byeline on several occasions, only to be thwarted by a well-positioned Woking defender.
Although the Woking attacks were more sporadic and less well-worked than in the first half, there were several good chances to make the game totally safe. Pattison made a great run down the right but pulled the ball back to no one. Sole burst through and then blazed wastefully over but then tested the keeper with a crisp left-footed effort. At the other end a spot of head tennis saw the ball end up in the side netting.
Ledgister repeated Pattison?s fine run but with the same outcome and Sam-Yorke evaded the keeper but his cross-cum-shot was cleared.
The Trams occasionally threatened without ever coming really close to scoring and the Cards seemed unable to rouse themselves sufficiently to get that final goal. And so the game gradually petered out.
A couple of positives were Gez Sole?s evident desire to make the most of his opportunity in an attacking role, although not everything he did came off. Charlie Moone also had a good first half but seemed to tire in the second. Danny Bunce seemed to be enjoying the greater opportunity to attack. It was a bit disappointing, though, that neither Joel Ledgister nor Delano Sam-Yorke were able to make more of this opportunity to shine against Kent League opposition.
Woking: Nick Gindre, Patrice Konan, Paul Lorraine, Dan Sintin, Danny Bunce, Joel Ledgister, Matt Pattison, Bradley Quamina, Delano Sam-Yorke, Giuseppe Sole, Charlie Moone
Unused subs: Abdou El Kholti, Paolo Vernazza, Daniel Spence, Wilfried Domoraud, Phil Gilchrist
Attendance: Not known
My MOTM: Giuseppe Sole (pictured): seemed more interested than most in making an impression.
