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Droylsden 1 Woking 1

Gary Owen
23/ 4/2008

THE basis of this performance would suggest that Droylsden would have been capable of existence in the Blue Square Premier had their earlier season form been better.

The visitors from Surrey will have been most pleased with a point from a 'nothing' game for both sides.

Dave Pace’s men should have held a two-goal lead at half-time, save for an erroneous flag from the referee’s assistant denying Terry Fearns a second goal in first-half added time.

It was the hosts who made the early chances as Fearns failed to properly connect with Chris Denham's pass before seeing an angled effort saved by Nick Gindre.

Denham shot straight at the keeper, while at the other end, Guiseppe Sole's long-range effort was easy for Paul Phillips.

So it was not against the run of play when Droylsden took a 35th minute lead when, with all expecting a cross, Fearns turned outside Jay Gasson before planting a rising drive past Gindre, albeit with the aid of a slight deflection.

Kevin Lynch was inches away from connecting with Denham's cross before Fearns was the victim of an offside flag after heading home Danny Ellis' pinpoint cross.

Fearns and Ellis both went close after the break before both sides made changes, Pace replacing the energetic Ellis with Robbie Talbot, while the visitors exchanged the ineffective Liam Marum for Goma Lambu - a switch that had an immediate effect as Lambu crossed for Jerome Maledon to equalise from 12 yards.

Talbot worked a great chance to give Droylsden the lead with 14 minutes left, attempting to chip Gindre from 10 yards when a driven or placed shot was needed.

Lambu shot over from the edge of the box and Marvin Morgan forced Phillips into a low save to his right as Woking countered from a Droylsden corner, but the best chance to steal the points fell to Talbot who showed a lack of composure when it mattered most.

Attendance: 301