Woking 0 Lincoln 0 Foster Shows His Worth.

The Imps net a hard-earned point at Woking FC, to keep a clean sheet to boot. Foster was outstanding throughout, but let us not get too ahead of ourselves, for, though goalless, there was plenty of entertainment on show.

For the benefit of  Woking fans, visiting the site for the first time, first the  score & scorers, secondly the teams & schemes, then the match report and finally more stats than you can shake an Imp or Card at thanks for reading Neil Gentleman-Hobbs.

 V 

H/T 0-0 

scorers

Attendance 1845  (1475 Cards  370 Imps)

***

The teams & schemes

Woking FC manager Gary Hill did indeed pull a couple more strokes with the announcement of a double signing 15 minutes before the team sheets went in. Simmo left it later showing a 5-2-1-2 formation during the warm-up, that eventually became a 4-3-1-2.  Hills 4-5-1 was more of a 4-2-3-1.

G Hill (4–5–1)

*****

Howe,

Newton,  Johnson, Parkinson, Nutter

Williams, Ricketts, Sawyer, Payne (Y-88), Betsy

McCallum

*****

Subs

57 McNerney on for McCallum 71 McNamee on for Sawyer

The Bench 

GK 18 Beasant , 5 McNerney, 14 McNamee, 16 Frith, 10 Sole

 

Simmo 4-3-1-2

Farman

Gray Brown  Boyce Newton

Foster (Y-28)

Fofana            Nolan

Power 

Tomlinson (Y-63)      Wright

 ****

substitution

71 Dixon on for Wright

The Bench 

31 GK Preece, 12 Sheridan, 17 Dixon, 7 Fairhurst, Rowe

To the game fellow football fans to the game………………….

Gray lofts from the Centre, Tomlinson heads on and Wright isdenied by the alertness of the keeper. Wright again wins a header but a free-kick is awarded.  A fabulous saving challenge from Brown stops McCallum in full stride. A physical opening sees both sides battle to win the midfield with Foster, Nolan and Fofana the defensive part of a diamond that allows Power to maraud. Nolan plays to Power who feeds Gray on the overlap. Gray’s ball is into Wright’s stride but his hesitancy again allows the keeper to foil.

Nolan is swallowing everything and releases Newton, but his ball is inches too high for Tomlinson and keeper Howe gathers thankfully.  A great ball from Foster releases Wright who skins two but Nutter gets lucky to put behind for a corner. Newtons corner is headed away, Power returns, but the ball eludes everyone for a goal kick.  A great back heel from Fofana, so far forward you would expect him to get a nose bleed, feeds Wright but three men are too much for him.

Nolan and Foster are shielding well until the latter takes too many touches and is robbed by Williams who runs at the defence. With Woking five on two he chooses to go wide and the men get back to snuffle out a great opportunity.  The Imps in-your-face pressure is forcing the Cards to hit long with McCallum hopelessly outnumbered. Nifty Newton’s subtle shirt-pulling is starting to rile the home support.

A glorious 40 yard ball from Newton finds Wright who turns on a sixpence but Thomlinson is crowded out.  Fofana, Foster and Nolan’s challenges are frustrating the Cards and denying play-maker Payne the chance to dictate the game.  Ricketts and Nolan in particular are having some clean but competitive exchanges with the Imp more than holding our own.

The Cards are getting the better of the possession and Newton fouls Betsy in a dangerous position 10 yards beyond the D.   Payne thunders a fierce effort just over the bar.  A kung-fu challenge from Foster  earns him a yellow as Woking continue to press with manager Hill certainly using his lungs.

A counter releases Wright but he cannot get a shot away before being closed down.  Its end to end stuff, Betsy is through but Boyce blocks and then Brown picks McCallum’s pocket before he can profit from the rebound.  Payne wonderfully weaves his way forward and Boyce is deemed to foul him with his solid challenge just outside the box.  Williams fires a twenty yarder barely a yard wide.

Newton and Fofana combine with the latter delivering to the feet of Power who curls wide.  A short corner sees the Imps defence switch off but Sawyer’s drive is wide.  Two brilliant Foster challenges eventually allow him to take a touch then feed Nolan who plays to Power, he in turn finds Tomlinson, who finds Wright but the slick passing move breaks down. The Imps are finishing the half stronger, Power plays to Fofana, to Gray who skins Nutter but the ball eludes Wright by inches.

Both sides have knocked it around nicely with the final ball just lacking, as much to the defensive midfielders as the centre or full-backs. That said both sides could have gone ahead before half-time. Betsy cuts inside and unloads a pile-driver but Farman saves superbly.  Tomlinson unloads a goalbound effort at the other end but Howe shows he too is an agile keeper. Gray is called upon to head for a corner as McCallum looks to pounce.

Second half

Both sides keep the faith and, in a mirror of the opening half, Gray gives Wright too much to do with a probing ball.  Tomlinson and Wright are battling well, Tommo chips to Wright but he is unable to get a touch at the far post.  Great work from Fofana again, plays in Power who finds Thomo, Thomlinson sends forth a bullet but Johnson bravely blocks.  Woking counter with Payne and Betsey, the latter lets fly an almighty drive but Farman saves well.

McCallum brilliantly roasts Brown and plays in Williams who fires goalward but Farman palms superbly at the expense of a corner.  A long throw from Gray wins a corner even though Boyce seemed to get a touch. Newton’s corner is gathered by the keeper and the hosts are away until Foster makes a mighty challenge on Payne, to kill the threat emphatically.

Three minutes off the witching hour, McNerney comes on for McCallum to add some aerial presence up top.  A great 7 man move from the Imps is foiled allowing Betsy to counter before Newton halts his endeavour with a strong none-shall-pass tackle. Williams serves up from the other flank but Farman beats McNerney to a challenge as the Cards continue to press.  A decent drive from Nutter goes high and wide and a somewhat fair but wholesome sliding challenge from Thomlinson, on Betsy, starts a bit of handbags even though the lino saw nothing. Tommo earns a yellow before Nutter’s free-kick eludes everyone at the far post.  Given the amount of shirts in fists in set-pieces through-out it was amazing to see anyone get off the ground. The Imps win a corner that ends the same way.

Another decent move from the Imps unfortunately just gets stuck under Newton’s feet.  Williams sends a 25 yarder that skims the roof of the net.  A beautiful ball from Williams finds Betsy but his drive is wide. Dixon comes on for Wright.  His pace and strength see him end one move by shooting over the stand and then sending a second effort wide.  Dixon then beats two – roasts them for fun – centres to Nolan, but his goal-bound drive is brilliantly blocked by Parkinson. Big Bohan is young and will be frustrating but what a bundle of energy and bravado we have.

His introduction marks a watershed in the match and the Imps, having been told to hold and counter, continue to force the game. Foster Nolan and Fofana have done a great job on man-of-the-match Williams, as well as Betsey and Payne. Tomlinson is starting to look hungry, Power probing with Nolan looking to cross the halfway line at last.  Dixon again goes for the line but the Cards Newton gets a challenge in. McNerney beats two but the central defender-cum-striker chooses the wrong option and Brown snuffs out the chance.

Newton, having been well beaten by sub winger McNamee, gets back and robs him blind.  Into stoppage time now and Newton hooks a great cross from Betsy away from danger and Foster attempts an outrageous half-volley from 40 yards that goes high and wide.  Betsy beats his man cuts back to Nutter but Farman gathers to ensure we garner a great battling point away at a strong side.

Well we are ninth, level with Hereford and the Cods, so unbeaten and on to Macc at home on Tuesday it is. Macc lost at home to Nuneaton 0-1, but our next home opponents next Saturday, Forest Green Rovers, beat 10-man Hyde 8-0.  Marcus Kelly got a hat-trick, the 20th minute dismissal of Brizzell, at 0-0 saw four goals before half time, with the same in the second 45 minutes.

*****

Stats

Note:

shots on includes goals and saves includes crosses claimed

*****

 (thanks WIKI)

  v   

57 % Ball % 43

6 Shots on 3

9 Misses 7

4 Saves 7

4 Corners 5

5 Offside 4

8 Fouls 17

1 Yellows 2

0 Reds 0