GLS CUP: SUTTON UNITED 0 WOKING 3
Woking drew first blood in the double header of meetings at Gander Green Lane when they moved comfortably through to the 4th round of the GLS Cup, and left Sutton hoping that they can turn the tables next Tuesday in the Surrey Senior Cup if they are to retain any hope of silverware at first team level this season.
The difference between the two sides on Tuesday was much as it had been when Woking edged the Surrey Senior Cup final at Imber Court in May, where the pace of Woking's wide pair of Raphael Nade and Michael Johnson proved too much for U's defence. On this occasion the loss of strikers Joff Vansittart and Craig Watkins before an hour had been played further handicapped U's, as the pair had given a Woking defence that included two members of the current National Game XI squad problems of their own.
Watkins was particularly lively early on, putting the visitors' defence under pressure with a couple of crosses, and when Shwan Jalal failed to gather a Matt Gray corner Woking were relieved to scramble the ball away. After fifteen minutes, though, they cut through with ominous ease as Nade sprinted down the right and his cross was met by a glancing header from Steve Ferguson that hit the inside of the post and crossed the line before Phil Wilson could pull it back.
They should have had a second minutes later as Johnson turned inside following a corner, but his cross was put over the top of a gaping goal by defender Luke Oliver.
U's continued to look threatening when they went forward, and Vansittart might have done better with a header from a Gray corner that went wide. Just before the interval Watkins outsmarted Oliver, one of Woking's National Game XI contingent, on U's right and pulled the ball back across goal, but Vansittart couldn't quite turn in time to get a shot in.
At the other end, U's were grateful to Wilson for two good saves to deny Johnson and Ferguson, although the second of those on the stroke of half time made amends for the poor clearance that had allowed Nade to set up the chance.
Struggling with flu, Vansittart failed to appear for the second half, with Steve Douglas coming on in his place, and an early attack saw Gray impeded and Oliver booked for kicking the ball away, giving him cause to be grateful for referee Steve Rubery's leniency in the first half when he clattered into Paul Honey but escaped with a talking-to.
Oliver immediately made way for Jon Boardman, another player to have represented the National Game XI in his time, and Woking soon dashed hopes of a home fightback in what U's would see as avoidable circumstances. A mix-up between Chris Nurse and Scott Corbett - the latter back in the defence as a replacement for the departed Kevin Hemsley - resulted in a corner being conceded, which was then headed almost out of Wilson's hands by Nigel Brake. When the ball came back in, Nade climbed highest to knock it down and Chris Sharpling nodded in from close range.
The loss of Watkins after a knock on the ankle soon afterwards further weakened U's, although Graham Tydeman did himself no harm with an energetic display as a replacement, and Nurse and Douglas battled hard for little reward up front.
Midway through the half, Brake's crossfield pass was cut out on the edge of the Woking area and a devastating counter attack saw Johnson put Nade away to outstrip Corbett and round Wilson before scoring.
Momentarily U's looked likely to fall apart, as straight from the kick-off a misplaced pass allowed Sharpling to hit a 25-yard shot that Wilson saved well, and then Ferguson swept home Nade's cross only to be denied by an offside flag. That was Nade's last contribution however, and the last 20 minutes saw Sutton looking in vain for the goal that was the least their efforts deserved, coming closest when Brake's cross was scrambled off the feet of Nurse, and when Jalal saved at close range from Douglas.
Sutton: P Wilson, M Gray, S Corbett, J Scarborough, L Gonsalves, N Brake, P Honey, C Watkins (sub G Tydeman 58), P Fear, J Vansittart (sub S Douglas H-T), C Nurse. Sub n/u E Akuamoah.
Woking: S Jalal, S Jackson, N Smith, L Oliver(sub J Boardman 50), M Ruby, M Johnson, S Canham, G McDonald, R Nade (sub J Richards 70), S Ferguson, C Sharpling (sub A McGregor 83). Subs n/u A Basso, K Murray.
Goals: Ferguson(15), Sharpling(54), Nade(68).
Booked: Oliver(46-kicking the ball away)
Referee: S Rubery(Ilford)
Attendance: 204
Other U's news
Defender Kevin Hemsley has returned to Crawley at the end of his one-month loan spell, while striker Garry Haylock, who joined U's in early December and scored a crucial goal in the 2-1 win at Thurrock, has been released and has joined Southern Leaguers Team Bath.
Glenn Boosey has signed Ryman League forms for Bromley, but is still eligible to play for U's under the dual registration rule which allows a player to register for more than one club provided that they are not in the same competition.
Sutton's Nationwide South game at Bishop's Stortford, which was scheduled for Saturday 5 February but has been postponed due to the Hertfordshire side's FA Trophy involvement, has been rearranged for Tuesday 1 March, kick off 7.45.
