Entertaining draw for the Reserves

Woking 2 Carshalton Athletic 2
Suburban Football League Premier
Tuesday 31st August 2010

The Cards lined up with a 4-4-2 formation, with regular first team right back Ricky Anane getting a run out following his recent injury, up front were first team strikers Gomez Dali & Ola Sogbanmu.

Woking had an early chance to take the lead, Sogbanmu latching on to a ball over the top and tried to lob the keeper from the edge of the area, but put a bit too much power on it.

The visitors had a chance a few minutes later, from a long free kick after Gavin Miller was perhaps harshly adjudged to have slid in too hard on the half way line. The free kick was floated into the box and Aaron Gough managed to rise above the Carshalton attack and head it back to keeper Matt Pegler (pictured).

Carshalton had another chance after 14 minutes, Pegler holding on to a fierce volley.

Soon after Woking took the lead, Sean Bradley receiving the ball wide right and getting a good low cross into the box where Gomez Dali finished first time from a few yards out.

4 minutes later Carshalton got a goal back, captain Gavin Smith firing past the Woking keeper.

A free kick 35 yards out in the 31st minute took Carshalton into the lead, defender Oliver Hinkly jumping up and putting it into the goal with a glancing header.

Tom Topham came close to getting an equaliser for Woking almost instantly, hitting the post from 30 yards out.

The home side pushed forward with Miller bringing the ball out of defence and playing a high through-ball for Dali to run onto, the Frenchman controlled the ball and got past the Carshalton right back into the box, but his short cross was blocked and cleared by the defence.

Half Time: Woking 1 Carshalton Athletic 2

Carshalton started the strongest in the 2nd half, but took 10 minutes to get a shot on target, Pegler diving to his left to save a curling shot.

Ricky Anane came off after 56 minutes, a good run out for him after his hamstring injury, his replacement Josh Watkins making an uncharacteristic mistake with his first touch, putting Pegler under pressure with a high pass-back, the young keeper having to rush back and did well to control the ball to stop it going in the goal.

Pegler was called upon again in the 63rd minute, pushing the ball around his right post for a corner, which he caught and started a counter-attack for the Cards, throwing the ball out for Dali to break forward, but he lost control of it when put under pressure by two opposition defenders.

With 10 minutes to go Sogbanmu came close to an equaliser, captain Charlie Turnbull playing the ball to the striker 25 yards out, he quickly turned and shot, but it just went wide of the goal.

Woking had a great chance to equalise in the 88th minute, substitute Ollie Palmer playing in Matt Powell on the edge of the area, his powerful shot palmed away by keeper Liam Stone.

A 2nd goal finally came for Woking in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Powell shooting from 20 yards out to put the Cards level.

Carshalton nearly got a 3rd, but Pegler was there to make a finger-tip save before the referee blew for full time.

MOTM: Matt Pegler, made some crucial saves, and started some quick counter-attacks.

Woking: Matt Pegler, Ricky Anane (Josh Watkins, 56), Anson Cousins, Tom Topham, Aaron Gough, Gavin Miller, Sean Bradley, Charlie Turnbull, Ola Sogbanmu, Gomez Dali (Ollie Palmer, 71), Matt Powell

Unused Subs: Jack Blatchford, Callum Eagle, Josh Griffiths