A handy contingent of 500 or so United fans were present at the Kingfield Stadium as kick off approached. Paul Simpson changed things with a switch to 4-4-2, Andy Preece dropping out through an injury sustained in training. Peter Murphy was passed fit after a muscle problem in the week, and moved into midfield on the left side. Simon Grand came in at centre-half to make his debut alongside Kevin Gray. Tall centre half Luke Oliver flicked a header wide from a free kick in the first minute. United replied with a chest down from Hawley and a shot from Magno Vieira that flew a foot wide. Peter Murphy turned sharply and fired a right footer over the top of the bar in the fifth minute. A deep cross in the 7th minute was met by a stretching Matty Glennon. Tom Cowan conceded a free kick on 17 minutes after losing possession near the edge of the box. A foul on Vieira allowed Carlisle to clear their lines. An Ian Selley floated free kick to the far post found the head of Boardman but the ball hit the side netting. Another Selley corner aimed at the near post was met by Oliver but his header was wide. A testing shot by Justin Richards was claimed well by Glennon as the home side continued to call the tune. Hawley and Billy opened up the Cards on 26 minutes to find Murphy whose shot was wide of the right hand upright. McGill combined well with Billy who made a good run and chipped across to Hawley to head over as the Cumbrians began to play with more fluidity. There was a scare on 34 minutes as a Gray back header evaded Glennon and went for a corner. Raphael Nade cleared off the top of Murphy's head after a good ball in from Shelley. Hawley set up Murphy who fluffed his shot from 10 yards out when unmarked, Adriano Basso collecting easily. A Chris Billy volley hit the side netting as the half-time whistle blew. After a slightly worrying opening 25 minutes, Carlisle had looked much more the part in the closing stages of the half. Vieira had the first attempt of the second half with a header that was easy enough for Basso to save. Within seconds Murphy had two shots blocked. United were dominating as Hawley took a pass from McGill and fired inches wide. Woking's first attack of the second half brought them joy. Gray lost the ball and Richards hit a shot from 25 yards that beat Glennon. United didn't deserve to be behind and they tried to respond quickly. The equaliser only took six minutes as Murphy put in a better cross for Hawley who had an easy task to shoot home. Vieira made a strong charge down the middle with a shot that Basso saved with his feet, Hawley unable to knock home the rebound as the ball was scrambled away for a corner. Soon after Hawley had another half-chance as United appeared to be getting very much on top again. A Selley corner found Oliver again but his header was uncontrolled and the ball flew well over. Murphy got the ball on to his unfancied right but the shot was highly inaccurate. Lumsdon fired in a free-kick but Basso was well behind it. Billy was booked for an ill-judged challenge as the game moved into the final fifteen minutes. Glennon rode to the rescue with a superb save at close range from substitute Foyewa. Shelley forced a corner with 4 minutes left. From it, Basso failed to collect and Farrell's shot on the turn was kicked off the line by Selley. Shelley was booked for a mis-timed challenge as the Cards got a free-kick with three minutes left. Al's verdict: A much better game of football than last week, but the result is still a point. It's good to be unbeaten and Woking away was never going to be an easy assignment. However after all the possession and a series of good chances, a draw must go down as a disappointment. The switch to 4-4-2 seemed to give us more leeway to play through midfield and Murphy was a much bigger factor as an attacking force. A central defensive pairing of Gray and Grand didn't seem designed to add any pace to the back but we just about managed to cope, although Gray's error for the goal proved costly. |
