Woking
FC v Histon FC
FA Cup 1st Round, Saturday 8th November 2003
Written
by Marc Fleckney
The
magic of the cup was apparent as Woking met Histon of the Dr. Martens League in
the first round proper of the FA Cup. After a baron run of results, it was right
that Woking went into this match with a sense of maybe another FA cup giant
killing was in the air. Woking fielded a full team and were not taking the
minnows lightly. As the teams were welcomed onto the pitch is was apparent the
numbers of supporters ‘The Stutes’ had brought down from Cambridge, with the
anticipation that their team could pull of one of the greatest FA Cup shocks
ever.
From
the kick off Histon attacked showing no fear and no nerves as they pressed the
Woking back four. After a blocked tackle the ball fell to Colin Vowden, who was
tripped and inside two minutes and Histon were awarded a free kick in a
promising position just left from centre of the penalty, twenty-five yards out.
Adrian Cambridge looked confident as he placed the ball, Cards keeper Ashley
Bayes demanded a wall of four, but nothing could have stopped the accurate shot
that Cambridge delivered. From the stand behind, it looked to go through the
wall but on TV replays, the ball did in fact go over the wall and left Bayes
scrambling to get across but to no avail. Histon were in dreamland. Off came the
shirt and Histon were in a deserved lead. Could the hold out for 88minutes and
pull off one of the shocks of the round?
As
the game went on, Woking became a more potent force and played the kind of
football that credited their Conference status. With no Steven Ferguson, Woking
looked to the running of Raphael Nade and Chris Sharpling and it was Nade who
created the space on the left for a cross into a crowded penalty area. Haule
challenged the goalie and the ball fell at a nice height for ex-Arsenal
midfielder Ian Selley to smash home from the edge of the area with a crisp and
well-timed volley (23).
Sharpling,
making his 100th appearance for the cards, for me, was in inspired
form and was out to prove his critics wrong after some unrest from Cards
supporters about his recent league performances who today he was brilliant
making the left-backs job a nightmare such was his confidence to take him on. He
was too good mid-way through the first half. One of his weaving run ending in a
trip by a Stutes defender and enabling Ian Selley to convert the spot kick from
18 yards sending the keeper the wrong way in the thirty-ninth minute. Sharpling
was then rewarded for his fantastic contribution with a well-taken goal on the
stroke of half time. His trickery left the defenders standing. A quick drag back
onto his favoured right foot and a crisp finish into the bottom corner sent the
Cards into a 3-1 lead and deflated the hopes of the once buoyant Histon
supporters.
The
second half was a non-event neither team were likely to add to their goal
tallies and neither keeper had anything to but kick the occasional goal kick.
The
full time was greeted with a sense of relief around Kingfield because with
Woking’s cup record over previous years no one could have been over confident.
Today was a professional Woking performance and one, which Glenn Cockerill can
be satisfied with as they progress into Round 2 for the first time since 1997 .
They didn’t buckle under the initial pressure and in the end always had that
extra bit in reserve if it was to go wrong. As for Histon they tried, got their
souvenir goal, but never threatened as much as the East Thurrock side of the
previous round did.
Woking
rightfully take their place in the second round and with another
professional performance like this in round two, a dream tie with Manchester
United could soon be a reality.