Woking 2-1 Dover Athletic - We've got every chance at our place, insists Hessenthaler

Tuesday 27th April 2010

WOKING 2-1 DOVER ATHLETIC
Blue Square South Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg
Tuesday 27th April 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Kingfield Stadium

UPBEAT Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler insists there is still all to play for - despite suffering his third defeat of the season to full-time side Woking.

Woking won this pulsating Blue Square South semi-final first leg, but they take a slender one goal lead to Crabble for Saturday’s second leg.

Kick-off was delayed for fifteen minutes until 8 o’clock to allow the crowd of 3,080 to flock through the turnstiles - and the 413 fans that travelled from Kent helped make the atmosphere inside Kingfield Stadium electrifying.

And those travelling Dover fans were celebrating when central defender Olly Schulz headed home an early goal following their first corner of the game - but Woking sent their fans home happy as goals from Moses Ademola and substitute Matthew Wright left the game on a knife edge ahead of the return at Crabble.

Hessenthaler was forced to shuffle his pack as Sammy Moore (ankle) and Jon Wallis (calf) were both ruled out, so Jake Leberl slotted into the middle of the park and Shaun Welford partnered Adam Birchall up front.

And things got off to a dream start for Dover as they took the lead after just 131 seconds into the game.

Nicky Southall swung in a corner from the right and Schulz lept at the far post to power his header into the bottom near corner of the Woking net to send the league runners-up into the lead.

Woking felt they had levelled when Aswad Thomas delivered an excellent cross from the left and this was met by a thumping header from striker Craig Faulconbridge, which beat keeper Ross Flitney, but the ball crashed down off the underside of the crossbar but didn’t cross the line according to the eagle eyed match-officials.

In fact, Faulconbridge was a constant thorn to the Dover defence during the first half as he won numerous high balls inside the Dover penalty area.

Adopting long-ball tactics and quickly hitting Dover on the break throughout, Woking did level after 17 minutes - to the delight of the home crowd.

Left-back Thomas played a long ball into the penalty area from the half-way line and Faulconbridge jumped to cushion a header down for former Welling striker Ademola to hook a half-volley past Ross Flitney from eight-yards out.

Flitney made a smart brave save to prevent Guiseppe Sole from pulling the trigger from inside the penalty area after Faulconbridge - yet again - knocked the ball down from inside the penalty area.

Dover Athletic almost grabbed a 26th minute lead, with a carbon copy of their early goal - but Schulz far post towering header was headed off the line by Mark Ricketts.

Woking had goalkeeper Ross Worner to thank to thwart Dover as Flitney’s ball up field was flicked on by Welford for 18-goal striker Birchall, who cracked a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was destined to fly into the roof of the net, only for the agile Woking keeper to tip the ball over his crossbar.

That save proved crucial, as Woking scored what turned out to be the first-leg clincher, just five minutes to go before half-time.

The impressive Nicky Nicolau whipped in an excellent cross from the left and Wright was lurking at the far post to power a downward header into the net from six-yards out.

Woking were dangerous in the air and Wright was left unmarked early in the second half but sent a bullet header over the crossbar after Ademola (who started up front before Sole’s injury before switching to the right-wing) whipped in a cross.

Dover Athletic’s best chance to equalise came after 55 minutes when a move down the right resulted in the ball being played across the box to James Rogers, who only had the keeper to beat, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by the keeper’s legs at the near post.

Dover target-man Welford wasted a couple of headed opportunities - and Birchall hooked a good opportunity over - but Southall brought the very best out of Worner with a curling left-footed free-kick from 25-yards, which the keeper dived to his right to save well with twenty minutes remaining.

Woking squandered a couple of late chances when a good move down the left ended in Wright firing just over with an angled drive and another Nicolau cross was met by a bullet header from Thomas, which cleared the crossbar, but Hessenthaler, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, admitted he was pleased that he can take Woking back to Crabble with just one goal in it.

“I still think we have got a good chance, you know it’s only half-time isn‘t it?,” said the 44-year-old manager.

“I said we’ll come here and score, I didn’t think we’ll score so early as that but we’re still in the game.

“I felt second half we were the better side. I won’t credit them too much. James Rogers should’ve scored on the far post, the keeper made a good save. Adam Birchall had a chance, we got in behind a couple of times so I think we’re delighted with tonight’s performance considering the preparation with the amount of injuries that we’ve got.

“I think it’s a very good performance from our boys tonight.”

Hessenthaler admitted that his defence couldn’t live with the physical presence of Faulconbridge.

“They are good on the break and they play to their strengths and they got it up to the two big guys didn’t they - and that’s how they scored their two goals from back to front very quickly and they‘re very good at it,” he said.

“But 2-1 is a good score for us. We’ve got to take them back to our place and we’ve got every chance.”

Dover Athletic’s chairman Jim Parmenter and Nick Cunningham paid for three supporters coaches to make the pilgrimage to Woking for tonight’s crucial game.

Speaking about the vocal fans that made the trip, Hessenthaler said: “Delighted with them. They made a lot of noise and I think they appreciated the performance the boys put in and we appreciate them being here tonight.

“Let’s hope we can take it to them Saturday and get to the final with their voices, which they have done all season, but the important thing tonight was we’ve took them back to the Crabble and I believe we’re well in the game.

“We’ve given ourselves a good chance. It’s only half-time, Woking are in front and we know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to be positive and we have to take the game to them.”

Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter also spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards and has every faith that the Kent club can make it through to the play-off final.

“I said at the beginning if we came away with a 1-0 defeat, I’d be absolutely delighted,” he said.

“It’s 1-0 at half-time, isn’t it? Which we know how nervous that makes teams. Hopefully we’ll have a couple of players back on Saturday and we can take the game to Woking and it will be a fantastic game, like tonight was a great game.”

Mr Parmenter urges the Crabble faithful to be the 12th man on Saturday - remember there are NO away goals in these play-off’s.

“I’m disappointed with the segregation here means the away fans here can’t get behind the goals and have a cover over the top of them,” he said.

“But that’s the way it is, but it’s all different at Dover, each team has an end and it should make for a fantastic atmosphere with the cover at both ends.”

Bath City defeated Chelmsford City in the other semi-final 2-0.

Hessenthaler added: “I think that’s still in the balance. Two goals, again, I think the first goals crucial there. If Bath get one then the game could be well over but if Chelmsford get one…..Both ties are very tight really aren’t they!”

Woking: Ross Worner, Ricky Anane, Aswad Thomas, Mark Ricketts, Tom Hutchinson, Tony Sinclair, Giuseppe Sole (Matthew Wright 29), Jerome Maledon, Craig Falconbridge (Joe McNerney 89), Moses Ademola (Charlie Moone 80), Nicky Nicolau.
Subs: Jon Boardman, Matt Pegler.

Goals: Moses Ademola 17, Matthew Wright 40

Dover Athletic: Ross Flitney, Danny Walder, Dean Hill, Craig Cloke, Olly Schulz, Joe Tabiri, Nicky Southall, Jake Leberl (Matt Fish 82), Shaun Welford, James Rogers, Adam Birchall.
Subs: Dean Grant, Andrew Miller, Jake Marsh, John Whitehouse.

Goal: Olly Schulz 3

Booked: Nicky Southall 80

Attendance: 3,080 (413 Dover supporters)
Referee: Mr Ryan Atkin (Sydenham Hill, London SE26)
Assistants: Mr Paul O’Hare (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) & Mr Adam Williams (Worcester Park, Surrey)
Fourth Official: Mr Chris Knowles (Kislingbury, Northamptonshire)