Woking pegged back by Ebbsfleet United to force FA Trophy replay

Ebbsfleet United 1 Woking 1
FA Trophy 1st round
10th December 2016

Woking conceded an 85th minute equaliser against Ebbsfleet United, forcing a replay in the first round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Chike Kandi gave the Cards a deserved lead three minutes into the second half with a sublime left-footed curling effort to evade goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore as the away side made their dominance in the opening period count.

Aiming to hold on for victory, Woking were dealt a cruel blow with five minutes to go when Ebbsfleet United captain Dave Winfield’s header rebounded off the post into the luckless Joey Jones who inadvertently deflected the ball into the goal.

With neither side able to find a winner the pair will face each other again in a replay at The Laithwaite Community Stadium this Tuesday (13th December) for a place in the second round of the FA Trophy.

Garry Hill made one enforced change to his Woking starting line-up from the FA Cup game against Accrington Stanley with the suspended Charlie Carter replaced by Chike Kandi.

Woking began the game brightly with Jake Caprice creating inroads down the right flank but neither side could produce a clear-cut chance in the opening 20 minutes.

Looking to assert dominance onto the tie, Woking rotated the ball well and put pressure on Ebbsfleet’s backline. A left-footed out-swinging free kick by Fabio Saraiva was met well by Terrell Thomas but his header floated wide. Saraiva then had an opportunity of his own latching on to a loose ball on the edge of the box but he sliced wide his powerful shot.

With 36 minutes gone Ebbsfleet United had their first shot on target with Jack Powell’s flashing effort pushed out well by goalkeeper Brandon Hall. The resulting corner was nodded back across goal by Charlie Sheringham but Brain Saah rose first to clear from danger.

As the first half fizzled out both Woking and Ebbsfleet defences remained on top with neither team able to test the goalkeepers.

Halftime: Ebbsfleet United 0 Woking 0

With Hill’s words of instructions ringing in the players’ ears as they returned to the pitch, Woking started the second half on the front foot hunting an early goal.

The goal duly came with the first moment of genuine quality in the match when a loose ball fell kindly to Kandi on the edge of the box, which allowed him to pick his spot and with a beautiful curling effort bent his shot around the goalkeeper to see the ball nestle in the bottom left corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Woking’s lead somewhat rallied the home side but the Cards central defensive trio of Saah, Thomas and Ismail Yakubu stood firm while allowing full backs Caprice and Frazer Shaw to keep charging forward.

With the lower league side switching formation in the hope of forcing an equaliser Woking spent most second period in the own half defending and looking to strike on the counter attack.

Credit to Woking, the home team side didn’t produce a threatening effort on goal in the second half until the 64th minute when substitute Darren McQueen headed over from eight yards out. At the other end, Caprice was set free down the right flank by Dennon Lewis but his right-footed effort sailed over the bar.

With five minutes of normal time remaining a fortuitous free kick was awarded against Woking and Ebbsfleet loaded the box. Andy Drury’s floated cross was met by Winfield whose header hit the left-hand post and unluckily rebounded off Jones’s face and he was helpless to see the ball cross the goal line.

The equaliser gave the hosts a lift for the final minutes as they looked to snatch the tie from Woking. Danny Kedwell was threaded through the inside left channel by Sean Shields but his low effort from a very tight angle evaded both Hall and the far post to slide out for a goal kick.

Woking saw out the dying minutes of the game but will now face a replay at home against Ebbsfleet despite having controlled the match for much of the tie.

Ebbsfleet United: Nathan Ashmore; Anthony Cook, Sean Shields, Marvin McCoy, Dave Winfield; Kenny Clarke, Dean Rance (Darren McQueen 71), Andy Drury, Charlie Sheringham (Danny Kedwell 56); Bradley Bubb, Jack Powell (Stuart Lewis 56)

Unused subs: Jonathan Miles, Jack Connors

Goals: OG Jones (85)

Bookings: Rance

Woking: Brandon Hall; Jake Caprice, Brain Saah, Terrell Thomas, Ismail Yakubu, Frazer Shaw; Fabio Saraiva, Joey Jones, Dennon Lewis; Chike Kandi (Frankie Sutherland 75), Gozie Ugwu (Delano Sam-Yorke 83)

Unused subs: Michael Poke, Keiran Murtagh, Anthony Edgar

Goals: Kandi (48)

Bookings: Ugwu, Caprice

Referee: David Rock

MOTM: Chike Kandi – Gave Woking the lead with the only flash of quality in the match and was a terror to the Ebbsfleet defence all afternoon.

Attendance: 825