What might have been

Rovers arrived in Surrey on the back of their best run in the FA Cup in thirty eight years to face a Woking side, joint top of the Conference South in possibly the biggest game the club has had in it’s history.

The first real chance of the game came after thirteen minutes, as a short corner from Woking was laid back to Jamar Loza, who cut back and fired at goal, only to see his effort blaze over the bar. Five minutes later, Kretzchmer slid in to get on the end of a Hodges cross, to be denied by Martin Conway. As the game approached the half hour mark, Kyal McNulty was forced into a last ditch clearance to stop a Woking forward from pulling the trigger. Alex Collard then bravely headed a corner off the line before Jake Hyde flashed a close range effort wide at the near post. Woking were well on top, but Kempston were holding firm. Ten minutes before the break, Rovers had their first chance of the half, a long free kick was pumped into the box and fell to the feet of Alex Collard. The defender couldn’t keep his effort down and flashed it over the bar from a tight angle. Conway then had to be at his best to make a smart save from Kretzchmer. However, six minutes from half time, the game changed. A cross was played in from the Woking left and appeared to be handled by Gayle in the area. Gayle went down in a heap, while Conway pounced on the loose ball. The referee’s whistle blew and he pointed back toward the middle. Initially, it was thought that a free kick had been awarded for the hand ball. There was stunned disbelief among the Rovers players when it became apparent that a goal had been given. Agonisingly for all connected with Kempston, the photographic evidence clearly showed that the ball had not crossed the line. Injustice was compounded before the break as Woking surged forward with Loza who saw his shot parried by Conway. With the ball loose in the six yard box it was a foot race between former Dundee frontman Jake Hyde and Alfie Powell. Hyde got there marginally quicker and tapped the ball in to double the lead. Powell, in his effort to stop the ball, collided with the post and was stretchered from the field with suspected ankle ligament damage and a twisted knee. A heart-breaking six minute spell was wrapped up when Hyde was unmarked from a counter attack to tap in Woking’s third goal in first half added time.

Rovers emerged for the second half earlier than their hosts, with a determination in their body language. Within four minutes of the restart, sub Nathan Tshikuna had a long shot that stung the palms of Ross in the Woking goal. Luke Heneghan then found Shane Bush in the area, who attempted to muscle past his man, but Collier stood firm to block. Jake Hyde saw a snap shot fly over the bar before the hour mark as Woking looked to reassert their dominance. With eighteen minutes to go, Kempston got a moment to savour. A long ball by Daniel Akubuine found sub Josh Crawley on the corner of the penalty box. He turned inside his man and curled a beautiful effort into the far top corner to send the visiting fans wild. The goal was later described as “world class” by Woking manager Alan Dowson in his post match interview. Two minutes later, joy turned into disbelief as Crawley crossed in to Shane Bush. The forward took the ball on his chest at the edge of the area and sent a right foot volley into the top corner past a helpless Ross. Rovers had their tails up and were pressing the matter as Woking had no answer to the attacking threat. Eight minutes from time, Crawley put another dangerous ball into the box, which was half cleared to Luke Heneghan on the edge of the box, he took a touch to get away from his marker and unleashed a rocket shot that took a manful block from Cook to prevent an equaliser. As Rovers poured forward, the game became stretched and the contest opened up into a breathless end to end encounter. With just four minutes of normal time to go, a long free kick from Martin Conway found the head of Shane Bush, who forced a full stretch save from Ross. Mason Spence flashed a shot wide of goal after being put in by Heneghan, then as the game ticked into stoppage time Alex Collard saw a header go just wide. Three minutes into added time a neat move on the edge of the box saw Heneghan feed Spence again, but the midfielder was closed out by the defenders. With one last throw of the dice, Martin Conway came up for a corner. The ball was only half cleared and fell to Conway, who saw his shot fly over.

The final whistle drew a standing ovation from all areas of the ground for the efforts of both sides in making a truly pulsating cup tie. The result brings to an end Rovers fairytale run in this year’s competition, leaving the supporters with memories that will last a lifetime. Woking manager Alan Dowson, in his post match interview was full of praise for the way that Rovers had conducted themselves, especially in the second half and admitted to being a little worried at the end of the game.

A return to league action on Tuesday night sees Rovers travelling to Aylesbury for a quarter to eight kick off ahead of next weekend’s FA Trophy trip to Dereham Town and what could possibly be another magical cup adventure in the making.