Embarrassing cup defeat
Badshot Lea (2) ……………. 3 Woking (2) …………………. 3
McClure 8’, Fitchett 40’, Peters 92’ Hussey 37secs, Wright 2’, Sogbanmu 71’
After extra-time: Badshot Lea win 5-3 on penalties
Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010
Surrey Senior Cup – Fourth Round
Attendance: 120 (estimated)
by Bob Cumming
Every time you come to Cherrywood Road, Farnborough, you cannot fail to be impressed with the development work being carried out. This stadium is now neat and tidy throughout, with one-third of the giant Prospect-end stand completed and, despite the weekend rain and a game the night before, the pitch had been well prepared. The Baggies, as tenants, welcomed the Cards for the first time.
Woking, playing a strong side, had a dream start with Billy Hussey driving a twenty-five yard speculative shot straight at and past the astounded keeper. Two minutes later the lively Moses Ademola took the ball to the goal line and whipped in a deep cross for Matthew Wright to climb high and place a header in the top corner.
Surely the Cards would not let this slip? The Baggies, however, had other ideas, and on eight minutes Northern Ireland international, and loanee from Wycombe Wanderers, Matt McClure could not believe his luck as all the Woking defenders stood and watched as he broke the off-side trap just inside the half-way line, leaving him free to race around Matt Pegler and tuck the ball home. Badshot continued to open both channels quickly, where both Wycombe youngsters were lively.
The experienced trio of Sloma, Nicolau and Arter were influential in much of the early play but did not have the pace and work rate of Billy Hussey. Wright, constantly shadowed by McCoy, nodded over from a Sloma cross, and a Sloma free-kick drifted inches high. Anane clipped his shot from Hussey’s defence-splitting pass inches wide, and Ademola had several crosses and shots but they all lacked the venom to hurt.
Pegler had to be alert to smother attempts by Fitchett and McClure as the speedy pair began to find gaps in the defence. Fitchett fell in the box under pressure from McNerney and felt he should have had a penalty, and two minutes later defensive uncertainty allowed a corner ball to drop to a pair of claret shirts two yards out and unmarked. They contrived to mis-kick and the ball spun out to Fitchett, who slotted tamely home.
Matthew Wright should have scored with the last kick of the half but kepper Watson cleared with his heels.
Half-time: Badshot Lea 2 Woking 2
Badshot Lea opened the second half at full throttle. Pegler raced out and brought down Fitchett outside the box, and was duly booked. Three minutes later Matthew Wright went in for a tackle with his elbow leading and, although no injury occurred, the referee felt it was dangerous play and, having already been warned for wrestling with defenders, the Woking forward was sent off.
Down to ten men and under pressure, the Cards took control but the killer instinct and the ability to take the initiative still eluded them. Ola Sogbanmu was brought on for Sam Sloma, and with Arter and Ademola working harder and providing runs and passes, it wasn’t long before the Cards went ahead. Billy Hussey collected the ball in the centre circle, drove on and passed to Sogbanmu on the edge of the D. One side-step and a firm drive and the ball was in the net under the keeper’s body.
On 78 minutes Hussey and Arter were replaced by Ellis and Turnbull, and Woking’s influence waned. Moses Ademola was booked several minutes after a touch line incident. Ola Sogbanmu nearly grabbed a second goal as his deflected shot clipped the post on 87 minutes, and then two minutes into the four minutes added on McClure’s deep cross from the left flank fell at Aswad Thomas’s feet as Mark Peters came sliding in, and the diminutive forward prodded the ball home to take the match to extra-time. With Badshot Lea now tired, and Woking having lost their shape and enthusiasm, the game petered out. Going second, Charlie Turnbull missed the opening penalty and, with Badshot Lea inch-perfect, the Cards suffered an embarrassing defeat.
Badshot Lea (claret shirt, white shorts, sky blue socks): Matt Watson, Dan Griffiths (Adam Prentice, 83’), Paul Andrews, Michael Smith, Barry McCoy, Rob Westell, Dan Fitchett, Brad Smith (Mark Peters, 70’), Nick Sowden, Matt Griffiths, Matt McClure (Joe Sowden, 115’).
Subs not used: Marc Kleboe, Mike Welch
Woking (all yellow): Matt Pegler, Ricky Anane, Nicky Nicolau, Jerome Maledon, Joe McNerney, Aswad Thomas, Billy Hussey (Charlie Turnbull, 78’), Harry Arter (Matt Ellis,78’), Matthew Wright , Moses Ademola, Sam Sloma [(captain] (Ola Sogbanmu, 59’)
Sub not used: Ben Head (gk), Matt Ferdinando
Sent off: Matthew Wright (leading with elbow)
Booked: Joe McNerney 33’, Matt Pegler 47’, Moses Ademola 81’
Scorers: Badshot Lea: McClure (8’), Fitchett (40’), Peters (92’)
Woking: Hussey (37 seconds), Wright (2’), Sogbanmu (71’)
Penalties: Badshot Lea [went first]: all scored - Peters, Fitchett, McCoy, N.Sowden, Westell
Woking: Turnbull (hit post), Sogbanmu, Ademola, Maledon – all scored
Referee: Mr Robert Smith
MOTM: Billy Hussey (pictured)
