Welling United 2 Woking 0
Blue Square Bet South
18 September 2010

The Card’s three game unbeaten run game to an end at Park View Road after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Welling United. The saying "a game of two halves� comes to mind when describing a match, which saw such a contrast across the two periods.

Woking, who fielded the same side that beat Basingstoke last weekend and started brightly, enjoyed the best of the early exchanges. Early on Mark Ricketts' cross found the head of a stretching Dave Gilroy who could only head wide of the right hand post.

The Cards first clear cut chance fell to Moses Ademola (pictured) on 10 minutes when he latched onto a high through ball by Ricketts and after tussling with Welling’s centre back, struck a powerful shot towards goal only to be denied by the legs of Charlie Mitten. Ademola then had a second chance to open the scoring from a corner after a cushioned header by Chris Bush picked him out but his diving header was straight into the hands of the home keeper.

Indecision in the Welling back four almost gifted the lively Ademola a further chance as he drifted in between the keeper and centre back. However with little time or space he managed to put his shot wide.

Welling’s first sight of goal came 20 minutes into the game. Hesitant defending by Francis Quarm allowed Day to rob him of possession and he hit a low shot, which was well saved by Pidgeley turning the ball into the side netting.

Just after the half hour mark quick feet by Quarm, who made amends for his earlier error, resulted in Woking winning a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Toby Little took responsibility and his curled effort beat the stranded keeper and scraped the post.

Just before the break Ricky Anane’s deep back post cross picked out Dave Gilroy who had got away from his marker. His header could only find the arms of a grateful Mitten who had been the busier of the two goalkeepers. If placed either side of the keeper the ball was destined for the net and would have given the Card’s a well-deserved half time lead.

The first half came to a close goalless and with Woking the more forceful of the two sides, enjoying most of the possession and creating most of the chances.


Half-time: Welling United 0 Woking 0

As so often in football if you don’t take your chances you get punished. Ultimately the Cards were finally caught out in a second half, where they also failed to create many clear cut scoring opportunities throughout a frustrating second period.

Just ten minutes into the second half Woking were left to rue their failure to convert their earlier chances and against the run of play Welling took the lead. A long lofted ball from the centre of the park found Pugh who latched onto the pass and lifted the ball over the on rushing Pidgeley to put the home side one up.

After going behind the Cards struggled to open up the now well-organised Welling back four and became ever more frustrated as time began to run out. The visitors finally managed to create an opportunity to equalise through good individual work by Dave Gilroy with a quick turn and shot from a tight angle gathered in by Mitten at the near post.

Substitute Sogbanmu had a half chance to make an instant impact in the game when the ball dropped to him inside the box after a failed clearance from a corner. His effort was scooped high over the bar.

The game was effectively over with seven minutes remaining, when Pires’ intelligent, quick free kick beat Pidgeley who was still arranging his wall, and found the top corner of the net.

The home side ended the stronger and were able to see out the remaining moments comfortably to secure their victory with the Cards left to return home empty handed.

A disappointing result then for Woking, who could quite easily have come away with all three points if only they had capitalised on their numerous first half opportunities. Woking will be able to take away many positives from the first half display and must find some answers to a disappointing second.


Woking Team: Lenny Pidgeley, Mark Ricketts, Chris Bush, Jerome Maledon, Joe McNerney, Adam Doyle, Ricky Anane (Ola Sogbanmu 72), Francis Quarm, Dave Gilroy, Moses Ademola (Craig Faulconbridge 54), Toby Little (Sam Hurrell 60)

Unused subs: Inns, Pegler

Welling United: Mitten, Coyle, Andrews, Sambrook (Cracknell 54), Obersteller, Day, Fazakerely, Pugh, Cumbers, Clarke, Healy (Pires 75)
Unused subs: Johnson, Billings, Omogbehin

MOTM: Francis Quarm

Attendance: 708