So, on a clear yet surprisingly unchilly night at the Park, City surrender a two goal lead to share the points with an eager Woking side in a 2-2 draw in front of a pleasing, yet far from pleased, 3856 supporters. City lined up: Marriott; Edwards, Matt Taylor, Seaborne, Tully; Moxey, Gill, Taylor, Carlisle; Basham, Stansfield.

 

After the opening exchanges it was City who had the better of the chances with first Deano blazing a 25 yard free kick high over the bar then Wayno fizzing a good looking cross just behind the onrushing Bash within the first ten minutes. Five minutes further and City continued to press with a move of real quality beginning with an outrageous inch perfect fifty yard diagonal ball right onto the toe of the galloping Wayno. He in turn sent Tully on his way on the overlap, but unfortunately his cross was cut out before it reached the lurking Stansfield.

 

But this was merely setting the scene for what was to come and in the 16th minute it was no surprise to anyone that City took the lead; an inswinging Deano corner being met at the near post by an unchallenged Matt Taylor who glanced home in classic fashion from close range to make it 1-0 City.

 

It should have been two on 20 minutes though - Stans breaking at lightning speed before being tackled on the edge of the box. Deano picked up the loose ball and skimmed it wide to Carlisle whose cross was pinged around a bit before finding Gill on the corner of the box who smashed a full blooded volley narrowly wide of the near post.

 

On 35 minutes it definitely was two, and once again it was Matt Taylor with his second of the game. Again it came from a corner with Andy Taylor whipping in a beaut to the near post that Stans stooped to flick on expertly. As the Woking defence stood static, Matt Taylor burst into the box to firmly butt Stans' flick home from a couple of yards out to make it 2-0 to City.

 

The rest of the half was played out deep in Woking territory, but alas without producing anything to trouble the keeper.

 

No matter, surely the second half would yield further rewards though. It looked like it in the third minute when Wayno and Bash conjured up a breathtaking one-two through the heart of the Woking defence, only for Wayno's shot to be blocked at source for a corner.

 

In the tenth minute what seemed like a thousand pass move surely deserved better than to see Bash's shot deflected for another corner from the edge of the box, however two minutes later City were forced to pay for their inability to convert possession and chances into further goals. Evading tackles down the right, a Woking forward cut the ball back from the by-line expertly where Matt Pattison was stationed unmarked to gleefully crash the ball across Marriott into the far corner to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

 

But City continued to search for further goals and midway through the half Gill's long throw found Wayno lurking on the edge of the box. His drive crashed into the back of Deano, however before he could recover the ball was cleared. Only partially though, and after a huge melee Stans thought he'd scored the winner with the ball seemingly destined for the back of the net before a Woking boot appeared from nowhere to hook the ball off the line.

 

Bash took an ultra-quick free kick on 30 minutes threading the ball through to Stansfield on the edge of the box, and although he managed to wriggle himself an opening, he flashed his powerful drive just past the far post with the keeper narrowing the angle.

 

It wasn't all City though, and Woking were fast beginning to get an upper hand in midfield, even though they weren't creating much. It was enough to concern manager Tisdale though, and to that end Cozic was introduced at the expense of Matt Gill in the 32nd minute to try and beef up the midfield.

 

Despite conceding a lot of possession now, City still looked the more likely to add to their tally, and on 40 minutes Bash had an effort blocked on the edge of the box after good work from Stans shielding the ball from a defender's close attentions. Two minutes later Bash again fired off a shot, but this time straight into the keeper's grateful grasp after powering his way round the outside of his defender looking for room.

 

But with a minute remaining Woking struck a hammer blow and poached an equaliser entirely down to City's inability to either clear the ball or tackle. Two Woking forwards battled their way through a half-hearted rearguard action before giant substitute Marvin Morgan bustled through to poke past Marriott at the near post from six yards out to make it 2-2.

 

There was just enough time for Logan to replace Basham and take a single touch before the ref blew for full time and two points dropped in a game we really should have won.

 

The real disappointing thing though was the inability to turn good possession and great chances into goals. We had plenty of both, yet Woking had three efforts all evening and two resulted in goals and the third hit the post. But it would be unfair to be too hard on the team, they've only lost once in the league since the middle of December, the 1-0 reverse at Torquay on New Year's Day. Since that defeat at home to Burton we've had six wins and four draws in eleven games, and this was the first home draw after four home wins on the bounce, so it's hardly a crisis yet.

 

However, if we're serious about mounting a promotion challenge we cannot afford to slip up when games are there for the taking. We've had far too many draws already this season, and although we're in the middle of a pretty impressive string of results at the moment, we simply must win games like these tonight, especially as no-one else playing tonight did anything special and so this was the ideal opportunity to close the gap on the play-off places. But with games against Grays, Farsley, Altrincham and Crawley coming up, surely that's the ideal opportunity to put tonight's blip behind us.

 

As for the players, well head and shoulders above everyone tonight was Matt Taylor. Imperious at the back, he scored goals eight and nine in an impressive haul so far. Also performing well were Carlisle, Basham and Stansfield - the latter in particular - who linked well and were at the heart of most of City's good looking play. Of the rest, well the less said about the Woking goals the better, both came from sloppy play in midfield and defence in failing to cut out balls or failing to make tackles. Although it shouldn't spoil an otherwise good night for City, it's a shame two pieces of bad play should undo all of the rest of the good stuff that City did tonight.

 

But that's football for you, it doesn't always go according to plan, and that's why you'll still turn up next time despite the disappointment of tonight - you never know what you'll get next time out. Will it be another Burton, or will it be another Stevenage? Current form and performances would suggest the latter, but either way I'm sure you'll be here in a couple of weeks when Farsley roll into town. See you there, come on you reds!