Humberside humbling for Cards in FA Trophy exit

North Ferriby United 4 Woking 0

FA Trophy 2nd Round

14th December 2013 

Three-times competition winners Woking were soundly defeated by a Humberside outfit currently sat proudly at the top of the Conference North, and clearly brimming with confidence.

Garry Hill’s side struggled to find their touch at key stages, the Villagers deservedly making it into the FA Trophy last 16 for the first time in their history, in front of a sparse Grange Lane crowd.

The hosts looked beatable, home keeper Adam Nicklin set on punching every ball that came his way, and soon tested by Joe McNerney from a Jon Nutter free-kick, while Charles Banya threatened from the first of many Kevin Betsy wing raids.

But the Cards were up against a side with 35 goals from just 18 league matches, and front men Anthony Wilson and Nathan Jarman certainly proved their worth.

Woking’s passing game seemed to suit the hosts better, with Jamie Yates soon in the thick of the action, testing Sam Beasant from the wing, while Danny Clarke netted for the Villagers after Wilson won out in mid-air, but was offside.

Nathan Peat was soon cautioned for a foul on Jack Marriott, and from the resultant Nutter set-piece the keeper punched away, while Scott Rendell was not far off at the near post from the next right-wing break.

Yet North Ferriby proved quick on the counter-attack and Wilson tested Beasant, while a Jarman free-kick was blocked by Woking’s wall.

Nice touches from Keiran Murtagh and Rendell then put Betsy away on goal. But while he held off two players, his final shot was easily dealt with.

Betsy continued to cause problems, and from his next cross Clarke had to scramble back to head behind. The former Cottagers man got even closer in the next attack, beating his marker but drilling left of the post, with Fulham loanee Banya waiting.

Again Wilson proved his worth on the break, testing Beasant from distance before a poor Jarman follow-up, while Beasant could only parry a powerful Jarman free-kick and Wilson came close again before another Jarman near-miss.

After a trademark McNerney header from a Josh Payne free-kick raised hopes again, the Villagers countered to great effect in the 36th minute and took the lead. A Yates free-kick caused confusion, Wilson finding the top corner after good work by Liam King, with Beasant and his defence crowded out and struggling to clear.

Home confidence grew, with Marriott dispossessed on the run at one end, while Clarke wasn’t far off at the other with a mighty strike from Yates’ corner, and Mike Cestor cleared the next home attack.

Marriott’s resultant attack was quickly snuffed out, while Betsy and Banya worked well together but the latter’s cross could not find the lurking Rendell.

Woking might still have seen the half out on level terms, but Nicklin did well to stop from Marriott after he finally slipped his markers and got a shot in.

Half-time: North Ferriby United 1 Woking 0

There was more urgency about the Cards on the turn-around, and in the first attack Rendell pulled back for Marriott, but the loan man dallied too long. When he did pass, Betsy couldn’t find the target.

The keeper resorted to slapping away the next Banya effort, with Woking’s job made even harder in the 51st minute, the visitors failing to clear as Yates’ free-kick caused problems, Jarman striking the post before Clarke smashed home the loose ball for a two goal lead.

The Villagers didn’t sit back, but Wilson hit wide from Yates’ next centre, Garry Hill soon replacing Banya with Giuseppe Sole, who was quickly involved, part of an attack in which Betsy’s shot was deflected for a corner.

Two Nutter in-swingers followed before the hosts cleared their lines, Marriott still struggling to find his touch, despite his obvious pace. When the loan striker lost out again, the Villagers swiftly countered, Jarman firing over after good work by Wilson.

A better Marriott 20-yard strike was deflected for a corner, but Josh Payne’s corner was easily dealt with, Woking getting no closer to a breakthrough.

John Goddard replaced Nutter with 20 minutes left, and again a Marriott effort was deflected for a corner, this time after good work by Cestor. But neither Payne’s set-piece nor a Goddard follow-up bore fruit.

Wilson remained ready to pounce when those moves broke down, but again fired wide, before Danny Hone denied Adam Newton on the counter-attack as Marriott lurked.

One promising raid ended with the referee stopping the flow for a free-kick when Betsy looked to be away, although McNerney’s free-kick at least led to another corner.

Two more Payne centres followed, with Betsy’s first effort deflected while the other sailed right over and away as the frustration continued.

A promising Marriott, Sole and Rendell raid ended in a raised flag, while Betsy hit the side-netting and Sole somehow glanced a header wide with the goal at his mercy.

To rub it in, the Villagers again showed their higher-division hosts how to finish, Wilson’s initial break ending in another goalmouth mess on 81 minutes, a danger-ball from Yates causing problems and King finishing.

Marriott was the next Card to find the side-netting after a perfect Goddard through-ball, showing his poise and pace but not quite beating the angle.

The Ipswich loanee turned provider for Betsy in the next attack, but his finish was poor, and as the roles reversed Marriott flashed a shot over as Woking fought for a consolation.

As it turned out, there was still a goal in the game, home skipper Russell Fry playing in King for his second in the last minute, with Beasant drawn out and the midfielder drilling perfectly home from a difficult angle.

And while 4-0 seemed harsh, the hosts were worthy winners, their superior work all over the pitch seeing them comfortably through.

North Ferriby United: Adam Nicklin, Paul Robson, Nathan Peat, Liam King, Matt Wilson, Danny Hone, Danny Clarke, Russell Fry ©, Anthony Wilson (Ryan Kendall 87), Nathan Jarman (Jon D’Laryea 76), Jamie Yates. Subs not used: Antoni Pecora, Ben Hunter, Gregg Anderson

Bookings: Peat, Robson

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton ©, Jon Nutter (John Goddard 70), Joe McNerney (Brett Johnson 85), Mike Cestor, Kevin Betsy, Josh Payne, Keiran Murtagh, Charles Banya (Guiseppe Sole 57), Scott Rendell, Jack Marriott. Subs not used: Aaron Howe, Mark Ricketts

Bookings: None

Attendance: 201

MOTM: Kevin Betsy – difficult to choose a Woking player, but there was no lack of effort on the day, with the former Fulham man in the thick of the visitors’ attacks.