THATCHAM 0 WOKING 4

19th March 2007
U19?s Football Conference Youth League

With just four games remaining and the FCYL Southern Division title still in the balance it was vital that Woking picked up three points.

A disappointing first 45 minutes brought the teams in all square, Woking had only managed to carve out three opportunities all of which were shots from way outside the box and caused little trouble for the Thatcham keeper.

With just 45 minutes remaining, lesser sides might have panicked and become a little nervous but these Woking youngsters were brimming with belief as they started the second period with a much more familiar sense of purpose and determination.

Just one minute gone and Kevin Maclaren fired a shot high and wide; four minutes gone and Billy Hussey saw a decent effort follow a similar fate.

With five minutes gone David Shin was introduced to replace Steve Casey and Woking continued to turn the screw, the pressure continued and just two minutes later Jide Ogunbote floated in a great cross that found the far post and bounced back across the goal and across the line.

Thatcham 0 Woking 1

Twelve minutes gone and the pressure was ratcheted up one more notch as Graham Baker threw on Pekan Samsdeen as another striker, sacrificing Jonny Targett in midfield.

The substitution almost bore fruit immediately as Kevin Maclaren put Pekan in on goal, Pekan took a touch and fired off a shot that crept past the left hand post.

Two minutes later the game was won as the ever-influential Billy Hussey threaded a ball to Ross White whose powerful drive flew into the bottom left hand corner of the Thatcham goal.

Thatcham 0 Woking 2

David Shin was looking imperious his classy footwork always finding a team mate, Billy Hussey and Kevin Maclaren were dominating midfield, the back five of Ben Zatwardnicki, Jide Ogunbote, Dave Suchy, Dave Middleton and Dan Evans never looked like conceding, whilst the forwards Ross White, Pekan Samsdeen and Nuno Gourgel were becoming too much of a handful for Thatcham to deal with.

On nineteen minutes Billy Hussey fired in a shot that the keeper pushed round the post for a Woking corner, the resulting corner was cleared and eventually found its way to Jide Ogunbote wide right, Jide passed the ball to Ross White who fired a ferocious volley into the top left hand corner of the Thatcham goal.

Thatcham 0 Woking 3.

Twenty-six minutes gone and the fresh legs of Ricardo Williams was brought on for Nuno Gourgel up front.

With the game won Woking lifted their foot a little from the gas and started to play some keep ball but credit to Thatcham, they did not give up and continued to make things difficult.

With two minutes remaining Pekan Samsdeen almost got his reward for some terrier like work rate as he was put through for a one on one with the Thatcham keeper, Pekan did well enough keeping his shot low but the keeper did better as he pushed the ball away for a corner.

With just one minute remaining the ball was fed out to Ricardo Williams wide right, Ricardo alleges that his subsequent effort from the wide right touchline was in fact a shot on goal (who are we to argue?), either way somehow his 45 yard drive managed to find the top left hand corner of the Thatcham goal ? better than Van Basten if he meant it!

Full time: Thatcham 0 Woking 4.

Some good performances particularly in the second half, David Shin was outstanding albeit only on the pitch for forty minutes, but today was about getting a result and the two clinical finishes from Ross White ensured that.

MOTM: Ross White

Squad: Ben Zatwardnicki, Dan Evans, David Middleton, David Suchy, Jide Ogunbote, Jonny Targett, Billy Hussey, Kevin Maclaren, Nuno Gourgel, Ross White, Steve Casey.

Subs used: David Shin, Pekan Samsdeen, Ricardo Williams.