WOKING'S recent improvement under Neil Smith and Graham Baker continued at the expense of Harriers at Aggborough Stadium with Liam Marum scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 defeat for Mark Yates' men.
Word came straight from the horses' mouth following this game that most wearing a Harriers' shirt recently have their heads stuck under the giant, multi-million pound arch at Wembley Stadium with Yates admitting that too many players are dreaming of the FA Trophy Final rather than the doing their regular job and the performance put in against the Cards today was no real exception.
The Manager threatened that almost nobody is guaranteed their starting place come May 12 and in truth; on today's performance you could argue that everything is up for grabs at Aggborough.
Woking, under new management, only had two shots on target today and when you consider that one was from Gavin Hurren and the other brought about the only goal of the game - Liam Marum's 40th-minute strike - you can see why so many were frustrated this afternoon. You can't really fault Woking for their game plan, either. Struggling at the wrong end of the division - at least before today's game - and looking to impress, they could barely have asked for much more than they got, a battling if not pretty performance as well as that crucial finish.
Nothing seemed to go the host's way today upon reflection but it could and should have been so much different - inside the first ten minutes Harriers could have been three goals to the good with some early chances. Woking were initially left reeling, with four minutes on the clock Jon Brady put a pin-point cross onto the head of Michael Blackwood who could only direct his effort over the bar.
Within the next five minutes Hurren volleyed wide after a good knock down from a corner by Mark Creighton and Constable had forced Nick Gindre to almost spill his strong 18-yard effort. After that, even at an early stage you sensed that once again Harriers were going to struggle to find the back of the net. Hurren almost did on 33 minutes though - unfortunately at the wrong end when he forced a fantastic save form Bevan as he tried to clear Craig McAllister's ball.
Five minutes before the break Woking snatched the lead - nobody closed down Goma Lambu from a free-kick and he was left free to roll in a low cross to MARUM who side-footed the ball superbly past Bevan much to the delight of the 86 away fans.
The home side did continue to batter away but there was just no real creativity, at least of a coherent enough nature. Constable forced a brilliant save four minutes after the interval when Gindre touched his shot on to the post.
Brady, Hurren and Russ Penn all had chances as the second half wore on but with a lead to defend there was very little change being given from a stern and organised Woking defence. They now look to have eased most of their relegation worries and, for Harriers, urgent improvement is needed at rivals Rushden and Diamonds next weekend.
Harriers: Bevan, Wilson, Creighton, Whitehead (Hay 80), Kenna, Brady, Hurren, Sedgemore (Penn 61), Blackwood (Russell 58), Christie, Constable.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Smikle.
Woking: Gindre, Gier, Hutchinson, MacDonald, Green, Lambu, Smith, Murray, Bunce (Selley 81), McAllister (Webb 60), Marum (Pearce 71).
Subs Not Used: Bittner, Sole.
Attendance: 1,479 (86 away)
