MAIDENHEAD UNITED 2 WOKING 0
Two poorly-defended headers from corners in the first half were the Cards? undoing on a hot and humid afternoon at Maidenhead.
Woking started with a couple of new trialists in their line-up: Sean Evans, previously a youth team player with Manchester United, apparently, and Kyle Storer, whom we?ve seen in the Conference playing for Tamworth and who was with Hinckley last season. There was another opportunity too for Kim to run the rule over Darren Behcet in goal and Kunle in midfield.
It was the Magpies who took the initiative, with Dale Binns proving particularly troublesome down the left flank, getting past players and putting in several decent crosses. The Cards found themselves a goal down as early as the 7th minute when Richard Pacquette, unmarked, thundered in a header from a corner.
For Woking, Patrice Mondon-Konan (pictured) looked lively, making positive runs from right back and linking up well on occasions with the scampering Evans. But the Cards didn?t seem to offer much up front, lacking any obvious focus for their attacks.
Maidenhead came close to getting a second goal when Ricky White shot over the bar, whilst the Cards responded with a tame effort from Mondon-Konan. But Danny Bunce went much closer just after half an hour when his free-kick thundered against the bar. Then Liam Marum?s run into the box opened the way for a shot from Joel Ledgister but the pace was taken off it by a defender.
In the 35th minute the Cards went 2-0 down. Neither Paul Lorraine nor Phil Gilchrist could stop Mark Nisbet from powering in a fine header from another corner. It would have been three down but for Behcet saving with his legs from Lee Newman.
On the stroke of half-time one of the Cards? best moves saw Storer play the ball into Marum in the box. Liam did well to dink it over the defender?s head and was unlucky to see the Magpies? keeper tip his effort over the bar.
Half-time: Maidenhead United 2 Woking 0
Predictably, given the long list of Woking substitutes announced at the start of the match, we saw wholesale changes in the second half. It started with Nick Gindre, Wilfried Domoraud, Matt Ruby and ?? (Number 18) coming on for Behcet, Marum, Gilchrist and Ledgister. Later, Matt Gray replaced Mondon-Konan and local fans? former favourite Manny Williams substituted for Kyle Storer. Later still, Charlie Moon came on for Evans and, finally, Carlos Talbot replaced Paul Lorraine.
Domoraud had an early chance, latching onto a cross, but his effort went straight at the keeper. Once Woking settled down, they enjoyed much more possession than in the first half and played the ball around neatly but without really troubling the Maidenhead defence. Manny Williams had the best chance in the 75th minute but his downward header from a Danny Bunce free-kick had little power behind it.
A flurry in the closing stages saw Charlie Moon hit a fine shot just wide. Then, with a minute or so to go, Charlie was foiled by the keeper, Domoraud seized the rebound but shot straight at a defender on the line and, finally, Goma Lambu headed over from close range. He then compounded his miss by blasting way over the bar in the next attack. Danny Bunce rounded off the sudden flurry with a skimming shot across the face of goal.
For Woking fans, there wasn?t a great deal of encouragement to be had from this afternoon?s game. Kunle played steadily enough in a defensive midfield role, Mondon-Konan again looked like the sort of right back we?ve been missing in recent seasons and Domoraud brought some energy and focus to the attack once he came on. But we need to defend corners better!
Woking (first half): Darren Behcet, Patrice Mondon-Konan, Phil Gilchrist, Paul Lorraine, Danny Bunce, Joel Ledgister, Sean Evans, Kunle, Kyle Storer, Delano Sam-Yorke (Goma Lambu), Liam Marum
Woking (second half): Darren Behcet (Nick Gindre), Patrice Mondon-Konan (Matt Gray), Matt Ruby, Paul Lorraine (Carlos Talbot), Danny Bunce, Number 18, Sean Evans (Charlie Moon), Kunle, Kyle Storer (Manny Williams), Goma Lambu, Wilfried Domoraud
The Cards' remaining friendlies are:
July 30th Oxford City away 7.45pm
July 31st WOKING & MAYBURY SPORTS CLUB HOME 7.45PM
Aug 2nd BRENTFORD HOME 3PM
Aug 5th SOUTHAMPTON X1 HOME 7.45PM
