Woking (H) 26-11-11

Swindon recorded their third Berkshire League win of the season with a 5:1 victory at Ballards Ash. Both sides were hampered by a strong cross field wind although it was Swindon who went close after just two minutes when Merchant’s shot was palmed away by Woking’s custodian. The visitors riposted with a quick counter-attack which was only halted by Leach’s interception and then a strong tackle from Brown on the edge of the box. Swindon opened the scoring when a quick passing move begun by Philips found skipper Broadbank in space. His pass split the Woking defence and Skinner sprinted onto the ball before drilling it past the visitor’s ‘keeper. Woking worked hard but stalwart defending from McGinn, Kutassy and Brown denied the Surrey side any clear shooting opportunities. Swindon began to dominate midfield with Lawrence linking well with Hopper on the left. Swindon then won a corner after Philips’ run took him past two defenders before being halted by Haynes’ interception. Lawrence’s flag-kick somehow evaded his team-mates and Barnard pushed the ball away. However, the homesters’ pressure paid off and they doubled their lead when Philips’ was upended by Haynes and Moody after a fine run down the left flank. The referee awarded Swindon a spot kick which Lawrence coolly converted. Swindon should have added to their lead before the interval when Philips supplied Hopper who crossed for Merchant but his shot from close range went over. Swindon continued to dominate after the break and began to play some delightful passing football. The homesters should have increased their lead but on both occasions White missed the target. White made amends shortly afterwards though when his cross-cum-shot from the left dipped beyond Barnard’s reach. The homesters were firmly in control. The hard-working Lea was prevented from adding his name to the score-sheet by a fine save from Barnard low to his left. With a quarter of the game remaining Swindon continued to press their ‘guests’. White held off a challenge from Moody to supply Lea whose pinpoint cross found Hopper who drove a half-volley beyond Barnard to give Swindon a fourth. Woking pulled a goal back five minutes later; Swindon to clear the ball following a swift counter-attack so and Barry netted for the visitors with a well taken shot from the edge of the box. Swindon brushed aside this setback and thought they had restored their four goal cushion when Hopper finished off a sweeping move but White was adjudged to have been off-side from Lea’s cross. Hopper wasn’t to be denied and scored his second and Swindon’s fifth, in the final minutes. A jinxing run down the left took him past two defenders but he was brought down on the edge of the area and the referee awarded a free-kick. The no.11 then expertly curled the ball into the net to seal a thoroughly deserved win.