Pitchero Non League

....trophy to add to the Blue Square Bet South championship.

Sutton United will be glad to see the back of the Cards, who have now scored twelve times in three matches against their Surrey rivals this season.

Despite plenty of possession the U`s were rarely able to trouble the Woking back line with Andy Little - back at his former club - in fine form in what proved to be a relatively comfortable win.

Woking’s pace up front was always a threat and, as Sutton tired following their two recent play-off games and finally reduced to ten-men, so the Cards looked increasingly likely to score.

An unusual lapse at a Sutton corner briefly allowed them back into the game but a third goal made the game safe at the death.

Sutton sportingly formed a guard of honour to welcome the champions onto the pitch – a playing surface in excellent condition after a long season and given its use by both AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian.

Following the necessary formalities Woking started brightly with some early pressure but the first real chance fell to Kyle Vassell who, played in by Romane McCrae, opened himself up to attempt to find the net from a tight angle. Little, however, was out quickly to smother the ball.

At the other end Keiran Murtagh was able to break up play in midfield and slide a pass through to Giuseppe Sole, but the Cards’ top scorer saw his left foot shot saved by Kevin Scriven.

It was then Sutton’s turn to attack and again Vassell, cutting in from the right hand flank brought a fine save from Little who turned away his fierce, low shot. After 19 minutes Woking broke the deadlock. Some excellent approach play saw Kevin Betsy play the ball through the legs of a Sutton defender to Murtagh. His shot was saved but deflected to Paris Cowan-Hall who scored from close range.

Cowan-Hall then almost played in Sole with a tremendous cross-field pass that saw Scriven just beating the Cards` striker to the ball.

Two further chances now fell to Vassell but the Sutton forward managed to blaze both opportunities well over the bar.

A long Little clearance saw Sole use his pace to almost turn the ball in and as the half came to an end, Betsy and Sole both had a couple of half chances as Woking finished strongly following sustained pressure on the U`s goal.

Sutton manufactured three early chances at the start of the half – Leroy Griffiths fired low and just wide from outside the box following a corner, a Craig Dundas long range effort was straight at Little and Vassell yet again fired wide as the Woking defence called for an off-side.

It was then Woking’s turn. Betsy burst through the Sutton midfield to blast his shot just wide of Scriven’s post and another long clearance from Little saw both Cowan-Hall and Sole in on goal but unable to turn in a bouncing ball as the United keeper scrambled the ball away for a corner.

But after 59 minutes Woking increased their lead. Played in by Paris Cowan-Hall, Dale Binns raced through the centre of the Sutton defence to lob the ball past the helpless Scriven.

Almost immediately afterwards Sutton were reduced to ten-men as player-coach Paul Telfer hauled down Sole who had used his pace to beat the Sutton defence and was in in goal. The referee had no option but to produce a red card with Sole for once firing the resulting free-kick against the defensive wall and Jack King then hitting the rebound over the bar.

Two more opportunities followed in quick succession – Murtgah firing wide and Betsy, dispossessing substitute Harry Beautyman but unable to get his shot away.

Ademola combined with Elvis Hammond in the box only to see his curving shot palmed away brilliantly by Scriven. With Wayne Gray chasing down every through ball and Hammond’s characteristic trickery the readjusted Sutton back line were finding life difficult.

But against the run of play Sutton had a lifeline. Little had to punch away a dangerous Tony Taggart free-kick and from the resulting corner substitute Craig Watkins headed in at the near post.

The ten men were briefly resurgent again with Taggart shooting wide. But as time ran out so Woking reasserted themselves with a Betsy run just averted by a stretching Steve McKimm and Ademola firing over a Murtagh cut back.

In time added on Gray sealed the result – latching on to a Betsy pass, he coolly slotted home his goal and the cup was on its way to Kingfield.

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