Horsham 1 Woking 0
Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
16th October 2021
It was a disappointing afternoon for the Cards, as Isthmian Premier side Horsham dumped Dowse’s men out of the FA Cup in a frustrating encounter at The Camping World Community Stadium.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 1,972, Horsham’s Tom Kavanagh scored a late winner in a clash which saw Woking fail to reach the 1st round of the FA Cup.
Despite restricting Horsham to just a handful of chances, it was Woking’s inability to capitalise on a whole host of decent opportunities that ultimately cost them the game.
Manager, Alan Dowson named an unchanged team as Woking looked to bounce back from defeat at Grimsby. Max Kretzschmar was only fit enough for a place on the bench.
Woking started the brightest, with Josh Casey finding plenty of joy down the left wing in the opening exchanges.
But the Hornets soon grew into the tie, as Charlie Harris began creating some good chances for the home side. His cross from the right-hand side found Eddie Dsane, who fired over at the back post. A warning sign for Woking just before the half hour mark.
Rohan Ince then saw Woking’s first real sight at goal with a deflected shot going just wide of the target.
For much of the game there was a midfield struggle for control, but with 10 minutes left of the first half, Woking finally upped the pressure. A great turn from Allarakhia opened up space before slipping in Effiong, who forced Sam Howes into a smart save low to his left. Tahvon Campbell then rushed a shot from distance just seconds later without troubling the keeper.
With Woking in the ascendancy, Allarakhia’s deep corner was missed by Sam Howes, leaving McNerney with a free header at the back post, sending it narrowly wide.
With seconds to go, some slick play from Allarakhia, allowed Campbell to take a shot, which broke to Nwabuokei, but he was unable to sort his feet out with the ball in a good position.
The two sides went in level at the break, after a scrappy first 45 minutes. Woking were unlucky not to be ahead.
Half-time: Horsham 0 Woking 0
Woking started the second half brightly and should have gone 1-0 up as Allarakhia spurned a golden chance within just three minutes of the restart. He broke through the defence, got one on one with the keeper, before slotting the ball wide of the right-hand post.
Although Horsham didn’t offer much in terms of clear-cut chances in the second half, a great last-ditch challenge from McNerney stopped Eddie Dsane having a free run at goal just minutes later.
A double substitution saw the introduction of Thompson-Sommers and Kretzschmar, as Woking looked to take more control in the centre of the pitch just before the hour mark.
Inih Effiong misses out
David Holmes
Kretzschmar almost made an immediate impact, as he picked out Lofthouse at the back post, but the full-back could only put his side-footed volley narrowly wide of the target.
Woking’s top scorer, Campbell then had the ball in the net for Woking after great work from Effiong, but the flag was already up for offside. Kretzschmar then failed to test former Woking keeper, Sam Howes from a free-kick, firing the ball straight into the Horsham keeper’s gloves.
Lofthouse and Casey were booked within a minute of each other for Woking as they tried to stop Dsane, who was a constant threat on the break for Horsham.
With just three minutes left of normal time, McNerney pulled down Lee Harding about 25 yards from goal as both teams pushed for a winner.
Tom Kavanagh’s sweetly struck free kick nestled into the top left corner of the net, putting Horsham 1-0 up and sending the home fans into dreamland.
This forced Woking into an attacking change. Tyreke Johnson came on for McNerney, as Dowse’s men searched for a late equaliser.
With 5 minutes of added time, Woking still fashioned four more great opportunities to bring Horsham back to Kingfield. First, Diarra headed wide from a floated ball to the back post, before Effiong first curled a deflected shot over from the edge of the box. Lofthouse then headed wide when free at the back post from the resulting corner.
A ball over the top from Kretzschmar was chested down by Effiong in the final minutes of added time, but his acrobatic volley once again found the arms of the Horsham keeper.
It was the story of the game for Woking, lots of great chances, but not enough quality to make them count. A hugely disappointing day all round. Woking will be looking to get back to winning ways next week when they take on Maidenhead United in the Vanarama National League.
Horsham 13 Sam Howes, 2 Tom Day, 3 Harvey Sparks, 4 Steve Metcalf, 5 Charlie Hester-Cook, 6 Will Miles, 7 Jack Brivio, 8 Tom Kavanagh, 9 Eddie Dsane (Laing, 83), 10 Charlie Harris (Lucas Rodrigues 66), 11 Lee Harding
Unused subs: 14 O’Toole, 15 Richards, 17 Smith, 18 Fenelon, 19 Punter
Goals: Tom Kavanagh 87’
Bookings: Harris, 20’ Howes, 85’
Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 2 Kyran Lofthouse, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Tom Champion, 5 Joe McNerney, (Tyreke Johnson 87) 6 Moussa Diarra, 8 Solomon Nwabuokei, (Kane Thompson-Sommers, 56) 9 Inih Effiong, 17 Tarryn Allarakhia (Max Kretzschmar, 56), 19 Tahvon Campbell, 24 Rohan Ince
Unused subs: 1 Smith, 7 Loza, 12 Collier, 21 Block,
Goals:
Bookings: Effiong, 45’, Lofthouse, 76’, Casey, 77’, McNerney, 86’
Referee: Matthew Russell
Attendance: 1,927
Man of the Match: Inih Effiong – A willing runner all day long, some good hold up play and looked like one of the more likely Woking players to score.
