Stevenage Borough 1 Woking 1

Last updated : 06 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

A close encounter between these two bitter rivals ended in a draw at Broadhall Way, a result that gives little help to either side's bid for a play-off place.

With both teams gunning for the three points to keep pressure on the sides above them, the game began at a frantic pace.

It was Woking who came closest early on when, with just four minutes on the clock, Chris Giles broke clear and forced a smart, diving save from Stevenage keeper Lionel Perez.

Perez was again in action after 17 minutes when Karl Murray fired in a snapshot from the edge of the area and it proved to be a sighter for the visitors as they took the lead just a minute later.

A devastating break down the right from Steve Ferguson saw the Woking man fire a pinpoint ball across the face of goal and, after Nathan Bunce was caught out playing for the offside trap, Stuart Noble turned at the far post and fired in unchallenged.

Stevenage looked for a way back into the contest and had efforts on goal from Steve Watson and Barry Laker, with the latter seeing his shot to cannon back of the post.

Stevenage finally grabbed the equaliser their efforts deserved nine minutes from half time, when Anthony Elding pounced on a knock-down from Justin Richards and drove the ball in past Woking keeper Ashley Bayes.

The second period began with Stevenage dominant and they had three efforts on goal within the eight minutes of the restart, with Dean Brennan, Elding and Watson all peppering the Woking goal.

The Cards for their part looked unable to find a way into the contest and were only able to manage two efforts on goal in the second period as Ferguson twice tested the ever reliable Perez.

Stevenage enjoyed by far the better of the chances and could have taken a decisive lead late on, but failed to capitalise on a goalmouth scramble, which saw the ball cleared off the line.

Then, following a corner from Brennan, Laker rose first only to see his header cannon back off the crossbar.

Stevenage, however, failed to provide the killer final touch and although this game was an exciting and evenly contested affair, it now leaves both sides contemplating yet another mid-table finish.