United played out their annual 0-0 draw at home to Woking today to earn their first draw of the season. A third successive 0-0 draw at home to the Cards saw plenty of perspiration but little inspiration as The U's found the going tough.
With all the talk about the front four of Haldane, Constable, Guy and Odubade there was a certain irony about left back Chris Carruthers almost opening the scoring after just four minutes with a left footed free kick from the edge of the box which cannoned away off the bar.
Woking, without a point after four games, looked light on confidence but heavy on organisation. The five man defence with evil twin Tom Hutchinson marshalling them, looked solid and frustrating. Even the away fans looked well drilled and organised when they moved to a different area of the ground after a safety alert! With both of the previous meetings in Oxford having ended 0-0 it was all frustratingly familiar and the game, at least, was crying out for a spark.
It almost came on 40 as good twin Eddie nodded on and chased the ball into space but hammered his volley just over the bar, and a Guy effort a minute later was flying into the net for a screamer until a brave defender threw himself in front of the ball to send it clear for a corner. Those efforts and Carruthers's free kick were as close as United came in a patchy first half, but they ended it grateful to Jake Cole for a good double save in the last minute of the half as Woking tried to spring forward.
Half-time saw the introduction of James Clarke for Matt Day at right back and a little bit of impetus as United started to get their wide men involved but Cole made a carbon copy save on 53 as Delano Sam-Yorke got goalside of Clarke and ran clear on goal.Cole made an even better save two minutes later as Murray miscued and Sam-Yorke ran clear again, with Cole off his line sharply to smother.
The Cards were suddenly on top and it was United who needed to shuffle, with Guy coming off, Levi Reid on the right wing and Yemi joining Constable up front for the last half hour.
They almost found a way through on 67 as Odubade's persistence found a way through for Haldane who hared down the left channel and did well to lift his shot past keeper Pidgeley only for the ball to smack back off of the outside of the near post. The fact remains though that all six of United's goals this season came in one match, against Eastbourne, and having created chances once more they had failed to breach the defences of hard working Woking.
An 87th minute chip from Odubade tested Pidgeley's handling one final time and there was a certain amount of pressure for the finale, but Woking had earned their first point of the season and will be pleased with their performance.
Att: 4,314
Away: 184
Stats by PA Sports
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