WOKING 1 SALISBURY CITY 0
23 September 2008
Phil Gilchrist?s side repaid the Board?s faith in appointing him earlier in the day as Manager in the best possible way ? by securing a second successive home win, thanks to a Liam Marum strike early in the second half. It was a deserved three points for the Cards, who had substantially more of the attacking play ? indeed, Lenny Pidgeley didn?t have anything to do apart from a couple of punched clearances and a few, safe ?takes? from corners and crosses.
Phil made two changes from the side which started at Ebbsfleet, bringing in Patrice Konan and Matt Pattison in place of Danny Bunce and Joel Ledgister. The formation seemed to be a loose 4-4-2, with Gez Sole and Liam Marum appearing to alternate in pushing forward to partner the bustling Wilfried Domoraud up front.
There was virtually no goalmouth action for the first twenty minutes or so, as both sides tested each other out. The Cards, though, looked more threatening in their approach play and Domoraud?s physical presence and pace seemed to unsettle the Whites? defenders somewhat. He drew a foul just outside the box but Sole?s free-kick hit the wall. Salisbury responded with a header from Darrell Clarke, which went comfortably wide.
The Cards pushed on and had much the better of the remainder of the half. Domoraud pushed a lovely ball inside the left-back but ex-Card James Bittner just beat the lively Goma Lambu to it. Other promising moves followed, with both Domoraud and Lambu putting in testing crosses.
Woking came close to opening their account in the 34th minute when Lambu played in Liam Marum, but the latter?s weak-ish shot was blocked by Bittner at his near post. There were immediate shouts for a penalty as Lambu was knocked over as he went for the rebound. A couple of minutes later a flowing move ended with a flicked ball from Tom Hutchinson which nearly prised open the Whites? defence.
The half ended with concerted Woking pressure. Domoraud and Sole showed commendable persistence as they combined to ride several tackles, with Domoraud then putting in a dangerous low cross. Lambu looked as though he had his shirt pulled ? with an arm impeding him for good measure ? as he sought to connect but appeals for a penalty were waved away. On the stroke of half-time Sole put Marum through with a superb pass but he was foiled once again by Bittner. There was still time for another good cross from Matt Pattison and a blocked shot from the same player before the interval arrived.
Half-time: Woking 0 Salisbury City 0
Woking continued to make most of the running after the break, and their efforts were rewarded in the 58th minute, just after the Whites had had their first shot on goal. A Sole flicked header sent Marum clear of the Whites? defence and he finished well, driving the ball beyond Bittner?s reach, with the Salisbury players protesting that he had been offside.
Nick Holmes threw on the bruising Robbie Matthews and former Kingfield favourite, Charlie Griffin, in an effort to get back into the game. While their height and strength did give the Whites a bit more momentum, the Woking back line did a fine job in protecting Pidgeley.
In the 80th minute Sole bravely won the ball in midfield and advanced to the right of the Whites? area, only to slip as he tried to get the ball across to one of two supporting team mates. Substitute Charlie Moone challenged for a ball and saw it ricochet off the keeper to safety. Another substitute Joel Ledgister did well to win a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Tom Hutchinson must have been only inches away from getting his foot to it as it fizzed across the goalmouth.
The Whites had one clear chance at the other end but, fortunately, it went begging and the five minutes of injury time came to an end just as Ledgister was threatening to extend the Cards? lead.
This was a very valuable and confidence-building win against a side who had not previously been beaten in five away trips. We just need a repeat performance on Saturday against Histon!
Woking: Lenny Pidgeley, Patrice Konan, Tom Hutchinson, Colin Miles, Goma Lambu (Joel Ledgister, 84), Liam Marum, Bradley Quamina, Matt Pattison (Charlie Moone,77), Giuseppe Sole, Wilfried Domoraud
Unused subs: Ross Worner, Delano Sam-Yorke, Danny Bunce
Booked: Giuseppe Sole. Liam Marum, Wilfried Domoraud, Bradley Quamina, Charlie Moone
Attendance: 1369
Sponsor?s MOTM: Wilfried Domoraud (pictured)