Chessington & Hook vs Woking

Against a much changed Dorking side who worked tirelessly throughout, we were pushed close right to the end in a game which to be fair could have seen a win for either side.

Early on we were the better side, and on seventeen minutes were rewarded with a goal from an Andrew Weir free kick. He would be the first to admit that it wasn’t his cleanest strike but a goal nonetheless. Whist our opponents work rate was to be admired they rarely threatened, and it seemed it would only be a lack of concentration or a simple error that would allow them back into the game. Our own attacking efforts whist filled with enthusiasm lacked any real quality, until a minute before half time when a short throw from Todd to Timba, was returned to Todd, whose mazy run was illegally stopped for a correctly awarded penalty.

Todd himself, assuming the responsibility to send us in two goals to the good at half time. His initial effort was stopped, unfairly so according to the linesman, and when the retake was again stopped by the Dorking keeper there was a noticeable mood change around the ground.
Charged with ensuring the players belief remained high, the coaching staff must have been dismayed five minutes after the restart when Dorking drew level with a fine volley from a well delivered left wing cross.

The response was good with some reasonable football now being played and each set play being as planned. A far cry from earlier in the game when the managers displeasure was there for all to see. From one such free kick a well-directed header came back of the post and a series of other half chances came and went.
With ninety minutes complete a diagonal pass from Smith released Todd on the left whose skilful run took him passed a first defender before being felled by the second, again in the box for our second penalty of the night. Martin Jackson this time took the ball and confidently fired home for us to take the full three points on a night where we just about deserved it.