Gritty Cards see off promotion hopefuls

Woking 1 Kidderminster Harriers 0
The Skrill Premier
10th December 2013

A 64th minute goal from Scott Rendell was enough to see Woking past promotion-chasing Kidderminster at a foggy Kingfield on Tuesday evening.

Garry Hill stuck with the same XI that recorded an impressive victory on the road at Halifax on Saturday. The Cards got off to a lively start with Banya taking the ball down 20 yards out from goal, running at the Harriers' defence and releasing a shot that narrowly missed Danny Lewis’s near post.

Woking continued to press and were unlucky not to be a goal up when Kevin Betsy sent in a tempting cross from out wide which found Jack Marriott on the edge of the six-yard box. The Ipswich loanee's header was on target but at a comfortable height for the Harriers’ ‘keeper.

A strong Woking defence were keeping chances to a minimum but their forwards were struggling to find a breakthrough. The home side again went close when Josh Payne took aim from thirty yards and released a thunderous shot towards goal which ended up going marginally wide.

Despite being on top in the first half, Woking could have gone in at half-time a goal down after Joe Lolley went down in the area following a tackle from Mark Ricketts. Despite the Harriers’ appeals for a penalty, the referee waved away the claims.

Half-time: Woking 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0

Both teams made a slow start to the second half and the first real chance came from a Payne free-kick. The midfielder again tried a long shot, this time it was on target but was straight at Lewis in the Kidderminster goal.

The breakthrough came shortly after when Keiran Murtagh played a great through ball to Betsy, who dribbled along the by-line and picked out Scott Rendell in the middle, who smashed home from close range.

The goal ignited some entertaining attacking play from Woking and saw back-to-back corners for the home side. However, they couldn’t extend their advantage and were given a scare when Josh Gowling took the ball down on the edge of the six-yard box, spun and shot but couldn’t find a way past Beasant in the Woking goal.

Woking continued to push for a second goal and when a brilliant through ball from Murtagh cut the Kidderminster defence in two Marriott found Banya on the edge of the box, but the winger’s shot was blocked.

The visitors were struggling to get past a resolute Woking defence and their only chances late on came from long shots from Marvin Johnson and Gowling but both failed to trouble Beasant as Woking held firm to take all three points and move up to 17th in the table.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Mark Ricketts (Adam Newton 50), Joe McNerney, Mike Cestor, John Nutter, Kevin Betsy, Keiran Murtagh, Josh Payne, Charles Banya, Jack Marriott (Brett Johnson 84), Scott Rendell

Unused subs: Aaron Howe, Giuseppe Sole, John Goddard

Goal: Scott Rendell 64

Bookings: John Nutter 56, Josh Payne 78

Kidderminster Harriers: Daniel Lewis, Lee Vaughan, Mickey Demetriou, Cheyenne Dunkley, Michael Gash (Nathan Blissett 79), Anthony Malbon (Marvin Johnson 79), Danny Jackman, Callum Gittings, Joe Lolley, Amari Morgan-Smith, Josh Gowling

Unused subs: Jamie Grimes, James Dance, Nathan Vaughan

Bookings: Amari Morgan-Smith 71, Lee Vaughan 78, Cheyenne Dunkley 80

Attendance: 1,166

Sponsor's MOTM : Mike Cestor - had a solid game at the heart of the Woking defence, breaking up play well and using the ball intelligently