Woking 3 Sutton United 1
Surrey Senior Cup Final
8th May 2012



Woking duly completed this wonderfully successful season with a final win and another trophy to add to the league championship. Sutton will be glad to see the back of the Cards, who have now scored twelve times in three matches against their Surrey rivals this season. Despite plenty of possession the “Us� were rarely able to trouble the Woking back line with Andy Little, back at his former club, in fine form in what proved to be a relatively comfortable win.

Woking’s pace up front was always a threat and, as Sutton tired following their two recent play-off games and finally reduced to ten men, so the Cards looked increasingly likely to score. An unusual lapse at a Sutton corner briefly allowed them back into the game but a third goal made the game safe at the death.

Garry Hill played Adam Doyle at left back with Derek Duncan on the bench and Mike Cestor unavailable due to the end of his loan spell. Keiran Murtagh and Jack King were teamed up in the centre of midfield with Tom Davis cup-tied. Man of the Match Kevin Betsy (pictured) started on the right with Dale Binns on the left. Gez Sole and Paris Cowan-Hall were paired together up front.

Sutton sportingly formed a guard of honour to welcome the Champions onto the pitch – a playing surface in excellent condition after a long season and given its use by both AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian. Following the necessary formalities Woking started brightly with some early pressure but the first real chance fell to Vassell who, played in by McCrae, opened himself up to attempt to find the net from a tight angle. Andy Little, however, was out quickly to smother the ball.

At the other end Murtagh, enjoying the excellent surface, was able to break up play in midfield and slide a pass through to Sole but the Cards’ top scorer saw his left-foot shot saved by Scriven. It was then Sutton’s turn to attack and again Vassell, cutting in from the right-hand flank, brought a fine save from Little, who turned away his fierce, low shot.

After nineteen minutes Woking broke the deadlock. Some excellent approach play saw Betsy play the ball through the legs of a Sutton defender to Murtagh. His shot was saved but deflected to Cowan-Hall, who scored from close range. Cowan-Hall then almost played in Sole with a tremendous cross-field pass that saw Scriven just beating Gez to the ball.

Two further chances now fell to Kyle Vassell but the Sutton forward managed to blaze both opportunities well over the bar. A long Little clearance saw Sole use his pace to almost turn the ball in and, as the half came to an end, Betsy and Sole both had a couple of half chances as Woking finished strongly following sustained pressure on the “Us� goal.

Half-time: Woking 1 Sutton United 0

Sutton manufactured three early chance at the start of the half – Griffiths fired low and just wide from outside the box following a corner, a Craig Dundas long-range effort was straight at Little and Vassell yet again fired wide as the Woking defence called for an off-side.

It was then Woking’s turn. Kevin Betsy burst through the Sutton midfield to blast his shot just wide of Scriven’s post and another long clearance from Little saw both Cowan-Hall and Sole in on goal but unable to turn in a bouncing ball as the United keeper scrambled the ball away for a corner.

But after fifty-nine minutes Woking increased their lead. Played in by Paris Cowan-Hall, Dale Binns raced through the centre of the Sutton defence to lob the ball past the helpless Scriven.

Shortly afterwards Alan Inns was replaced by Moses Ademola, with Binns moving to left back and Betsy crossing to the left side of midfield. Almost immediately Sutton were reduced to ten men as Paul Telfer hauled down Gez Sole, who had used his pace to beat the Sutton defence and was in in goal. Referee Ward had no option but to produce a red card with Sole for once firing the resulting free-kick against the defensive wall and Jack King then hitting the rebound over the bar.

Two more opportunities followed in quick succession – Murtgah firing wide and Betsy, dispossessing substitute Beautyman but unable to get his shot away. Garry Hill then introduced Elvis Hammond and Wayne Gray in place of Sole and Cowan-Hall, with Hammond immediately getting round the back of the Sutton defence, crossing to Ademola, who fired wide. Ademola again combined with Hammond in the box only to see his curving shot palmed away brilliantly by Scriven. With Gray chasing down every through ball and Hammond’s characteristic trickery, the readjusted Sutton back line were finding life difficult.

But against the run of play Sutton had a lifeline. Andy Little had to punch away a dangerous Taggart free-kick and from the resulting corner substitute Craig Watkins headed in at the near post. The ten men were briefly resurgent again with Taggart shooting wide. But as time ran out so Woking reasserted themselves with a Betsy run just averted by a stretching McKimm and Ademola firing over a Murtagh cut-back.

In time added on Wayne Gray sealed the result – latching on to a Betsy pass, he coolly slotted home his goal and the cup was on its way to Kingfield!

Woking were presented with their medals, the trophy and a very welcome cheque for two thousand pounds to finish this wonderful season in perfect style!


Woking: Andy Little, Adam Newton, Adam Doyle, Keiran Murtagh, Alan Inns (Moses Ademola 63), Joe McNerney, Paris Cowan-Hall (Wayne Gray 68), Jack King, Dale Binns, Giuseppe Sole (Elvis Hammond 68), Kevin Betsy

Unused subs: Derek Duncan, Aaron Howe

Sutton United: Kevin Scriven, Paul Telfer, Craig Braham-Barrett, Steve McKimm, Simon Downer (Anthony Riviere 46), Sam Page (Harry Beautyman 48), Tony Taggart, Craig Dundas, Kyle Vassell (Craig Watkins 73), Romane McCrae, Leroy Griffiths

Unused subs: Bradley Wood-Garness, Wayne Shaw

Sent off: Paul Telfer 64

MOTM: Kevin Betsy

Attendance: 917