North Ferriby United 2 Woking 1: Good guys win, says Steve Housham

Danny Emerton drew a good save from Woking keeper Michael Poke with a low curling corner that the keeper parried. The ball was cleared for a throw-in from which Jake Skelton rose to deftly head home Taron Hare’s chipped cross.

Curtis Bateson had a goal rightly disallowed for off-side after 13 minutes.

The game was fairly even in terms of territory but Ferriby offered the greater goal threat without forcing Woking keeper Michael Poke in to a save.

Woking’s equaliser after 25 minutes came in controversial circumstances. Ferriby defender Mark Gray went down after a clash of heads in the centre-circle. The ball went out for a throw to Woking. They took it quickly with Ferriby’s defence, including Gray, well out of position and after a goalmouth scramble Gozie Ugwu forced home the ball. The goal affected Ferriby’s composure for a while .

Max Kretzschmer worked hard to force Woking forward and Ugwu’s physical presence was a handful for Ferriby’s defence. Even so, the visitors struggled to make any impression on The Villagers’ defence.

Woking had the better of the second-half opportunities but could not find a way past home keeper Rory Watson. He saved well from Charlie Carter and was then alert to take the ball off Ugwu’s toes. Ferriby’s back four were also in good form and stood their ground against a side with a strong physical presence.

The winning goal came when Robbie Tinkler wriggled his way down the left and pulled the ball back for Reece Thompson to hit a low well-placed shot beyond Poke. It may have been rather against the run-of-play at this stage but It really is time fro Ferriby to have some good fortune.

Tinkler was unfortunate not to score when he forced Poke in to a fine flying save.

Kretzschmer had a goal disallowed for handball then headed narrowly wide with what was Woking’s last opportunity.

As the game closed, a break from Sam Cosgrove saw him draw-out Poke before passing sideways to Ryan Kendall to slide the ball home. Unfortunately, Kendall had got himself in front of Cosgrove and was off-side.

Ferriby manager Steve Housham was upbeat about his side’s victory,

“It was a great performance by all those involved. I thought we were the better side for large parts of the game and could have been three ahead before their equaliser which I felt was dubious in the circumstances.

“I thought it was poor sportsmanship. I was furious about it at half-time and told the boys that the good guys win and to go out and do it We certainly did enough to deserve the win.

“It’s good and important to get back-to back wins. As I always say, we start again at Bromley next Saturday. We know it will be difficult to escape the bottom four but we are not going to be giving up!”