Bromley 2 Woking 4
Blue Square Bet South
20th September 2011



Goals from Wayne Gray, Elvis Hammond and a brace from man of the match Moses Ademola secured Woking another three points at Hayes Lane and moved them to the top of the table. Welling’s defeat at Boreham Wood and the fact that Dartford’s win against Staines was only by the one goal means that the Cards returned to the number one spot on goal difference – a position they last held after the first game of the season.

Currently scoring goals for fun - the Cards have netted ten times in their last three games - they created plenty of chances and could easily have bagged a couple more against a Bromley defence that struggled at times to cope with the pace and trickery of the Woking attack.

Woking generally dominated from start to finish. However two moments of sloppy defending gifted Bromley both their goals and meant that the result was never really secure until Ademola’s second and the Cards’ third arrived ten minutes from the end.

Garry Hill was forced to make one change with Mike Cestor’s return to Leyton Orient after his loan spell had come to an end. Derek Duncan returned at left back but within five minutes of the start he found himself unfortunately at the centre of some poor Woking defending. His under hit back pass to Andy Little left the Cards’ keeper exposed and centre forward Hakeem Araba had the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net.

This was hardly the start the Cards’ wanted but, to be fair, they quickly put this set back behind them as they continued to press forward playing a slick and accurate passing game.

After a quarter of an hour they engineered a number of excellent chances. First Dale Binns accurate cross from the left was scrambled away only as far as Duncan. The left back looking to put right his error played in a beautiful curling cross into the six-yard box. A lunging Paris Cowan-Hall got a touch but it was straight at the Bromley keeper Santangelo. This was immediately followed by a Binns shot that Santangelo palmed away. From the resulting corner the ball was half cleared and headed back into the box by Jack King to Ademola who saw his close range effort expertly saved by Santangelo.

Woking were now in the ascendancy with several desperate Bromley tackles resulting in a series of corners. The equaliser was coming and after thirty-seven minutes it was Moses Ademola who, turning expertly in the box, created his chance out of nothing. His left foot shot beat Santangelo at the near post as he fired the ball across goal and into the far corner. It was no more than the Cards deserved.

Almost immediately Woking created yet another opportunity as Little’s quick throw out released Dale Binns. His pace took him away from the Bromley cover and down the left flank. A pass inside to Cowan-Hall gave the young striker the opportunity to play the ball dangerously in across the six yard box. This time Santangelo was able to gather and snuff out the attack.

The half ended with Woking continuing to press as they secured five corners in quick succession but were not able to convert any of them and take the lead.

Half-time: Bromley 1 Woking 1

With the start of the second half Woking were immediately on the attack playing at an even higher tempo than during the first period. Within a minute Wayne Gray almost benefitted from hesitation in the Bromley defence. His effort was cleared to King whose goal bound shot was also blocked.

Woking took a deserved lead three minutes after the restart. Jack King’s excellent, defence splitting pass through to Gray saw the striker beat the advancing Santangelo to the ball and he fired home from just outside the area.

Gray had a further opportunity after good work from Cowan-Hall. The striker used his strength to hold off his marker but his resulting shot was agonisingly just past the post. In the process Gray managed to pick up an injury and was immediately replaced by Elvis Hammond.

It was then the turn of Paris Cowan-Hall to get the ball into the net but his close range header was ruled offside. But immediately and very much against the run of play Bromley found an unexpected equaliser.

A long ball forward saw the Woking defence hesitate. Andy Little was out of his goal in an attempt to clear but realising he had no chance of getting to the bouncing ball before the advancing McKenzie, stopped. The Bromley forward had the relatively simple task of lobbing the ball over Little and into the empty net.

Woking continued to press forward as they looked to restore their lead. A magnificent run down the left took Binns to the bye line. His ball into Hammond was just behind the forward but turning he managed to get his shot away, but it was only just off target. Next Ademola almost managed to cash in as Santangelo dropped the ball at his feet but the keepers immediate challenge managed to avert the danger and his own embarrassment.

At the other end Bromley had a rare opportunity as a good shot from McKenzie flashed past Little’s post. But it was now the turn of Ademola to add to the score. Substitute Gez Sole produced a trademark run into the box and past a static Bromley defence. His shot was only half cleared and as Santangelo hesitated Ademola was on hand to score from close range.

Further chances fell to the Cards – Hammond dwelt on the ball when he had a good opportunity to shoot and another fine run from Sole saw his shot fly over the bar. And a fourth goal arrived courtesy of another close range effort from Hammond that was powered into the net after his initial effort had been blocked.

So Woking move to the top of the table as their free scoring and attractive football proves at times irresistible. A few defensive frailties remain but while the Cards score rather more than they concede they’ll continue to mount a strong challenge for promotion.



Woking: Andy Little, Adam Newton, Derek Duncan, Mark Ricketts, Joe McNerney, Adam Doyle, Paris Cowan-Hall (Jay Davies 81), Jack King, Moses Ademola, Wayne Gray (Elvis Hammond 62), Dale Binns (Giuseppe Sole 73)

Unused subs: Josh Griffiths, Aaron Howe

Cautions: Giuseppe Sole 90

Bromley: Dean Santangelo, Ugo Udoj, Nathan Green, Tutu Henriques (Harry Harding 60), Joe Dolan, Liam Harwood, Danny Waldren, Salifou Ibrahima, Hakeem Araba (Gareth Williams 60), Leon McKenzie, Mike Jones (Orlando Smith 60)

Unused subs: Marlon Patterson, Ryan Dolby

Cautions: Joe Dolan 53, Nathan Green 66


MOTM: Moses Ademola – two well-taken goals and some typical pace, trickery and persistence that caused the hosts problems all evening.

Attendance: 478