Fine End To A Great Season

Woking 6 Metropolitan Police 0
Surrey Senior Cup Final
April 30th 2014

Woking ended the season on a high note by winning the Surrey Senior Cup for the twelfth time. The only teams to have bettered this achievement are Dulwich Hamlet (16) and Sutton United (15). Woking also equalled the best score in a final matching Weybridge, who beat West Croydon by a similar scoreline in 1894-95.

The Cards were clearly taking this match very seriously indeed as they fielded their best available side, the only absentee being club captain Mark Ricketts,who had been given his marching orders (for the first time in his career) in the recent away league fixture at Forest Green Rovers. Although Woking were the clear favourites against their Ryman League Premier Division opponents, particularly given their home ground advantage for the final, the Police started brightly against a somewhat lackadaisical Woking side. However, the Cards took the lead on the quarter hour when Scott Rendell steered home a Josh Payne free-kick at the near post. The goal settled the team down and there was only ever going to be one winner thereafter.

Ten minutes later a neat move ended when Kevin Betsy was brought down in the penalty area and Rendell powered the penalty home with the 'keeper going the wrong way. A number of other chances came and went before Giuseppe Sole tucked away a shot five minutes before the break to give Woking a commanding lead.

Half-time: Woking 3 Metropolitan Police 0

The second half was only a few minutes old when a loose ball just eluded Rendell who was looking for an early hat-trick.

The next goal was not long coming, though, as a cross from the left from substitute Reece Beckles, on for Sole, eluded everyone before nestling in the far corner of the net.
The energetic Beckles then just failed to get on the end of a great cross from John Nutter to add to his tally.

To their credit, the Police did not throw in the towel and produced a number of promising moments which might well have seen them on the score-sheet but Sam Beasant in the Woking goal was on hand to scoop up anything that breached the defensive line in front of him.

John Goddard was next to try his luck but hit a post from an acute angle. However, the Cards rubber-stamped their authority with two further goals in the final twenty minutes. First, Brett Johnson, a second half substitute for Mike Cestor, headed home unopposed from a right wing corner before Kevin Betsy completed the scoring ten minutes from time when he elegantly passed the ball into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.

So, a pleasing end to a season in a match which was only ever going to end in a comfortable victory for the Cards. But what a season it has been. After a far from promising start, the team has performed magnificently under the expert guidance of Messrs Hill and Thompson. Roll on next season. Who knows what heights we might reach!

WOKING: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Joe McNerney, Giuseppe Sole (Reece Beckles 47), Kevin Betsy, Mike Cestor (Brett Johnson 60), Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, John Goddard, Keiron Murtagh (George Frith 60)

Unused subs: Andy Little, Niall Wright

Goals: Rendell 14, 26 (pen), Sole 40, Beckles 63, Johnson 72, Betsy 80

My MOTM: Scott Rendell - scored twice, led the line well and was always a threat

Attendance: 832