WOKING 3 KIDDERMINSTER H 0

WOKING 3 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0
SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2008
BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

There seems to be something about the last game of the season being played in balmy weather that brings out the best in the Cards. Rewind the clock to last season?s encounter against Northwich, and you?ve got the picture. Today was no exception, with the Cards putting on a superb entertaining and effervescent performance, to fulfil Colin Lippiatt?s pre-match wish to serve up something special for the fans, as he bowed out from club management for the final time.

Signalling his intent, Colin decided to start with a new attacking formation of 4-2-3-1, that hasn?t been used this season, but was tried and tested by him when he was manager at St Albans. Nick Gindre kept his place in goal and the back four was Danny Bunce, Jay Gasson, Paul Lorraine and Damian Batt. The two holding midfield players were Bradley Quamina and Jerome Maledon, and in advance of them were Matt Pattison on the right, Gez Sole in the middle (or in the hole, as it?s often called) and Goma Lambu on the left. Marvin Morgan was the sole orthodox forward.

Understandably, it took the Cards a bit of time to adjust to the new formation, and Kidderminster enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, with Christie looking a threat. However, after five minutes, there was an indication of what was to come, when Pattison, whom Kidderminster couldn?t contain all afternoon, put over an excellent cross, which Gez powered towards the top corner, only for MacKenzie to acrobatically tip the ball over the bar.

With the Cards looking more and more at ease with the new formation and beginning to keep possession well, it was no surprise when they took the lead after twenty-four minutes in spectacular fashion. Pattison gathered the ball midway inside the opposition?s half, and with great pace, ran at the centre of the defence, evading several tackles, and managed to keep his composure to the end, to calmly slot the ball past MacKenzie, to bring the bumper crowd to its feet in joyful celebration.

In the twenty-ninth minute, the Cards had one of their few scares all afternoon. Christie rose well at the far post to get on the end of a cross and headed the ball against the bar, and with the goal seemingly at his mercy, he side-footed the ball towards the empty net, only for Gindre to pull-off an excellent reflex save to somehow keep the ball out.

Towards the end of the half, Morgan had the opportunity to increase the Cards? lead, which their first-half performance would have deserved. Damian Batt, who was having his best game for the club, played in Morgan, who showed good skill and strength to turn his marker, only to blaze over from a good position.

Half-time:

Woking 1 Kidderminster 0

Any thoughts about whether or not Woking would be able to keep up the high standard of performance that they?d set with their first-half display were quickly dispelled, as the Cards immediately continued to look vibrant, fluid and full of confidence.

Almost straight from the kick-off, Pattison, who typified everything that was good about the performance, chased down a seemingly lost cause near the corner-flag, and cleverly played in Gez, who bore down on MacKenkie only to finish with a weak shot straight at him.

In the fifty-fourth minute, the Cards increased their lead with another well-worked goal. Marvin Morgan, who?d taken up a position wide on the right, managed to get to the by-line to put over a dangerous cross, which found Bradley Quamina, who smashed the ball home from six yards.

The Cards rounded off an excellent performance by adding a third goal five minutes later. Maledon, who was having his most convincing game for the club, cleverly passed the ball out wide to Morgan. He in turn fed Batt, who managed to get over a good cross to find Pattison, who with his back to goal, turned sharply and buried his shot on the far corner.

Although the game was won, Morgan could and should have made it four, when in the sixty-seventh minute, he was adroitly played in by Sole, only to blast over. There was also an opportunity for Pattison to grab his hat-trick, when he volleyed just past the post.

Although this was a game where the result didn?t matter, there were enough signs today to demonstrate that, given the right tactics, encouragement and self-belief, there?s enough ability in this squad to improve our league position and level of performance next season. It was pleasing to see players interchanging positions, looking compact, hunting in packs and wanting to pass the ball to each other, as opposed to getting rid of it as quickly as possible. We are a young team, and hopefully in the next few seasons if we can perform at today?s level, we can also be a team that makes a certain Mr Hansen eat his words!

Woking: Gindre, Batt (Gray 67), Lorraine, Gasson, Bunce, Maledon, Quamina, Pattison, Sole (Ruby 82), Lambu, Morgan (Sam-Yorke 70)

Subs Not Used: Worner, Marum

Booked: Pattison.

Goals: Pattison 24, Quamina 55, Pattison 60

Att: 2310

Sponsor's (GMB) Motm: Matt Pattison (pictured)