WOKING 1 WEYMOUTH 1
7 October 2008
The Cards? three-game winning streak came to an end at Kingfield tonight but at least they fought back to grab a vital point after going behind early in the second half. Both sides struggled to find any rhythm and chances were few, so neither team could really complain about sharing the points, although both will probably feel that the game was there to be won.
The Cards were hit by the late withdrawal of Wilfried Domoraud, their most potent striker of late, replaced by Delano Sam-Yorke. The only other change from the side that started at Mansfield was Danny Bunce in for the injured Colin Miles.
Woking started brightly enough and looked for a short while as though they might make light of Domoraud?s absence. Liam Marum earned a free-kick, which Gez Sole took quickly and put wide, whilst a double header from Paul Lorraine and Tom Hutchinson threatened from another free-kick. Goma Lambu advanced into the box and shot wide and Marum?s deflected effort also raised hopes. But a ?skier? over the bar from Joel Ledgister ended this phase of the game on the quarter of an hour mark, and the Cards never looked quite as lively again. It also signalled the first serious attack from the Terras, with Lenny Pidgeley having to fend off a fierce effort from Stuart Beavon.
The game became fairly nondescript at this point, with the Terras getting more into the game but not posing any threat to the Woking goal. For the Cards, Joel Ledgister looked as though he could outpace the Weymouth defence but neither he nor a listless-looking Liam Marum were really able to make possession pay. Goma Lambu worked hard, in typical fashion, whilst Delano Sam-Yorke bustled but looked raw.
Gez Sole shot wide from a free-kick in the 38th minute but the only attempt on goal of any note was Lambu?s hooked effort four minutes later from Patrice Konan?s cross.
Half-time: Woking 0 Weymouth 0
Woking had an early chance in the second half when Sam-Yorke swung over a dangerous cross but Marum stuck a foot out at it when a header seemed called for. He was also unable to get the better of the defender when Sam-Yorke slid the ball through into the box a few minutes later.
The Cards continued to look fairly toothless and therefore vulnerable to a single Weymouth strike. It came out of the blue in the 58th minute. Sam-Yorke failed to get in a tackle on the Woking left but the real problem came when Tom Hutchinson?s slide tackle failed to dislodge Beavon, who advanced and shot past Lenny Pidgeley from an acute angle.
The Cards looked fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against them a few minutes later when the ball struck Konan?s raised arm. Boosted by that let-off, they raised their tempo somewhat and appealed for a penalty at the other end when Lambu?s shot seemed to strike an arm. Liam Marum did well to pick up a throw-in on the edge of the box and make space for a left-footed shot. Unfortunately, it went wide. Phil Gilchrist brought on Matt Pattison and Charlie Moone for Sam-Yorke and Marum and Woking continued to press for an equaliser.
Having failed to take advantage of successive corners, the vital goal came in the 80th minute from a long cross from Bradley Quamina. A Weymouth defender seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball. Joel Ledgister got an uncertain touch to it but then advanced purposefully and shot cleanly past the Terras keeper to make it 1-1.
Woking pressed for the winner as Tom Hutchinson headed wide from a corner and then went even better in the 90th minute as his header cannoned off the bar but the weaknesses in the Woking performance were also typified by some poor control by Ledgister and a wasted cross behind the goal by Lambu.
This was a slightly disappointing performance against a poorish-looking Weymouth side but it would be churlish to complain too much after recent efforts. Phil Gilchrist knows that his side will need to do better if they are to sustain their recent upward momentum.
Woking: Lenny Pidgeley, Patrice Konan, Paul Lorraine, Tom Hutchinson, Danny Bunce, Goma Lambu, Giuseppe Sole (Manny Williams, 81), Bradley Quamina, Liam Marum (Matt Pattison, 71), Joel Ledgister, Delano Sam-Yorke (Charlie Moone, 71)
Unused subs: Ross Worner, Phil Gilchrist
Attendance: 1802
Sponsor?s (Noodle Nation) MOTM: Paul Lorraine (pictured)
