Pyrford fought back from two goals down to draw against a side who always seem to have the upper hand in matches between the two teams. On an extremely heavy, boggy pitch, both sides had enough chances to win the game, but a draw was the fairest result.
Pyrford were under pressure for much of the first half and went behind early, when a free header at the back post from a corner was unable to be kept out despite scrambled efforts on the line. Nathan then cleared a similar effort off the line soon afterwards, and Duane pulled off three excellent saves to keep the score at 1-0. Pyrford’s chances were few, with Arran hitting a good effort on the turn over the bar, and it was Woking and Maybury who went two up, when Duane slipped attempting to clear a drilled cross and only succeeded in slicing the ball into his own net.
There was time before the half time whistle for Pyrford to get one back and when Matt and Wattsy took a quick free kick on the right, Wattsy’s deep cross was headed down by Stu and Rob somehow managed to miss from two yards with the goal gaping.
Two-nil at half time was perhaps generous to Pyrford, who were distinctly second best, but the second half was a different affair entirely. With the pitch descending into a mudbath, Pyrford’s extra desire dragged them back into the contest. Rob and Arran both went close early on, and Woking’s counter attacks, though dangerous, were becoming fewer as the game went on. More chances were missed at both ends, before Rob finally got his goal. Excellent work on the left from Matt, Fowler and Wattsy put Rob in the clear and he finished comfortably.
Pyrford were well on top at this stage and levelled with 15 minutes to go. Matt picked the ball up in space from range, and shot, as he is often keen to do, but this time his effort had the necessary power and flew into the far corner from 25 yards.
With both sides just happy to get a game in after a month of postponed fixtures, a draw was the fairest result. It was a very good comeback by Pyrford, who looked out of the game at half time, and was particularly encouraging given the recent run of poor results.
