cisse

Woking 1-1 Fleet

The Fleet earned a first draw of the season to maintain a good record against Woking as Ouss Cisse’s first goal for the club cancelled out Jim Kellermann’s first-half penalty. 

There were six changes to the starting lineup as Chris Solly and Franklin Domi returned from suspension and Luke O’Neill missed his first match of the season.

Woking knocked on the door in the early stages, Josh Wright with one crucial interception. A quick one-two between Darren McQueen and Domi, with the assistance of Hayden White, allowed the pair to push forward and Domi pulled the trigger but his shot was blocked. 

A free-kick in the 13th minute from goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen then found Padraig Amond who hit his volley way off target. The Fleet defence was called into action again shortly after that when Ricky Korboa found himself through on goal but a well-executed tackle from White killed off that Woking attack. 

Chances continued to fall for the hosts as another close-range shot was fired over the crossbar, Amond the guilty man again.

A great chance for the Fleet followed when McQueen reacted to a rebound with a header that was tipped over by the Woking keeper. The corner from Wright was whipped into the area but Woking cleared their lines. 

Mark Cousins continued on from his strong performance of Saturday when he pulled off a number of excellent saves to deny Woking, Kellermann opting to shoot from range and the Fleet keeper getting a strong hand to that one.

However, he was beaten from the spot three minutes before half-time when McQueen cut across Korboa on the edge of the box and the referee deemed that illegal. Kellermann stepped up and sent the ball down the left with Cousins unable to get near it. 

Dominic Poleon, after a couple of runs into space behind the Cards defence, first caught sight of goal during additional time but his long-range shot was comfortably saved.

That was the injured Poleon’s last contribution as he made way for Shaq Coulthirst at the start of the second period.

Woking began it on the front foot, Korboa again with a shot just off target. Moments later, the high press from Amond allowed the Woking striker to take a shot from close range, forcing a strong save from Cousins. The hosts continued to push for a second goal, drawing a well-timed tackle out of Clifford in the box as Fleet kept themselves in the game. 

Craig Tanner was immediately called into action after his introduction from the bench just before the hour to provide a set-piece from the right. His airborne corner fell close to Jääskeläinen and as Coulthirst tried to get a touch, Cisse was the one who found the crucial intervention with his head to earn his first goal for the Fleet.

Domi came close to doubling the Fleet’s score with a thunderous shot from the corner of the area that skimmed over the crossbar as the visitors pushed Woking back in the closing stages.

Both sides had the desire to win it and there was a worrying moment for the Fleet as Cousins slid outside his box with a little help from a Woking player while handling the ball and the referee produced a yellow card. 

The lively Korboa got a shot away that was inches wide while at the other end Coulthirst just couldn’t get enough control on the ball to take it round Jääskeläinen in the box who got a hand to the ball.

The point was enough to lift the Fleet up a single place in the table to ninth, only three points behind their much-fancied hosts.

EUFC: Cousins, White, Solly, Cisse, Wright, Domi, McQueen (Sterling-James 86), Clifford (Tanner 58), Chapman, Odokonyero, Poleon (Coulthirst 46). Subs not used: Edser, Hollis.
WFC: Jaaskelainen, Moss, Casey, Taylor, Korboa, Amond, Akinola, Kellermann (Robinson 81), Bradshaw, Odusina (Wilkinson 71), Anderson (Willmott 71). Sub not used: Andre Jr
Attendance: 2,418 (122 EUFC).

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