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News - Aug 2009
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Cards lose out despite promising display |
12th August 2009
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Josh Rankine has kindly filed this match report.
Woking 1 Chelmsford City 2
11 August 2009
Tonight’s encounter suggested an exciting game was possible, with two of the league’s title contenders (hopefully!) coming up against each other, and excitement was what was provided, along with tension.
The first half began with open and attacking football from both sides, the two teams not taking long to size each other up. Early set pieces were gained but dealt with calmly by both defences. The first real goalmouth action came in the 10th minute, with Moses Ademola bundling the ball into the net after a scramble, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Woking then enjoyed several minutes of decent possession, launching attacks down both flanks through Luke Medley and Aswad Thomas, and in the 22nd minute the Cards were rewarded. Woking took the lead from a well-taken corner into the box, Medley back-heeling the ball past keeper Holloway following another goalmouth scramble.
The Cards’ lead, however, only lasted 7 minutes. Chelmsford won a soft penalty following a nudge inside the box by Aswad Thomas, which Clarets’ midfielder Jamie Hand coolly slotted to the left of Woking keeper Ross Worner to equalise. The rest of the first half continued in entertaining fashion, with both sides sharing possession, and playing attractive attacking football.
Half-time: Woking 1 Chelmsford City 1
The second half continued how the first ended, with neither side able to grab the initiative, and both having probing but unfruitful attacks. The first notable attempt of the half for the Cards was a free-kick in a promising position just outside the box, but the chance was wasted, with a shot being blazed over.
Then in the 58th minute, following an impressive and flowing move, Chelmsford took the lead. Danny Hockton drove through the Cards’ midfield and shot from the edge of the box, placing the ball in the bottom right-hand corner well beyond the reach of Worner. Tom Hutchinson’s appeal for handball against Hockton was waved away by the referee. The elation for the Chelmsford players and staff was clear to see, with the Clarets’ coaching staff pouring onto the pitch in celebration.
Frustrations boiled over for a period after this, with the Cards players, clearly annoyed with themselves and with the referee’s decision, and putting in a few ill-judged sliding tackles, with Ricky Anane being booked in the 61st minute. The Clarets players responded in kind, and play became scrappy for a time.
A 1508 strong crowd roared on the Cards’ efforts for an equaliser, as they began to dominate play going into the last 20 minutes. They were not helped, however, by some exasperating refereeing decisions, most notably Sam-Yorke’s inexplicable booking after 75 minutes, after seemingly being fouled himself whilst challenging for the ball down the touchline. He, however, continued to probe down the Cards’ left, putting in impressive crosses and cutting inside the Clarets’ midfield.
Most of the action of the last 15 minutes was centred on the Chelmsford City box, the Cards dominating possession, but being unable to create clear opportunities to shoot at goal. Tommy Hutchinson joined the Woking attack in the dying minutes, a familiar scene to Woking fans watching the Cards trailing opposition and fighting for an equaliser. Gez Sole earned a free-kick in a perfect position outside the Chelmsford box in the dying minutes, giving Cards fans late hope, but was unable to convert the chance, putting his shot well over the bar. This was the last real effort on goal for the Cards, although Chelmsford’s Ricky Holmes nearly extended their lead with a tremendous solo run before shooting narrowly wide.
Woking: Ross Worner, Ricki Anane, Aswad Thomas, Mark Ricketts, Tom Hutchinson, Tony Sinclair, Luke Medley, Harry Arter, Moses Ademola (Joe McNerney, 83), Giuseppe Sole (Charlie Moone, 90), Sam Sloma (Delano Sam-Yorke, 67)
Unused subs: Matt Pegler, Daniel Sintim
Booked: Ricky Anane, Harry Arter, Aswad Thomas, Delano Sam-Yorke
Sponsor’s (Calor Gas) MOTM: Luke Medley
Attendance: 1508
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