Football: Walker turns back the clock
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Your support makes all the difference.Woking 2 Millwall 2
There may have been no heroics this time from Woking to compare with their greatest FA Cup conquests but at least one of their number, Clive Walker, was hell-bent on rolling back the years at the Kingfield Stadium last night.
The former Chelsea winger will be 40 by the time the old competition, in its 125th year reaches its climax next May yet he continues to mock time. He was by some distance the best player and might easily have won the tie for the Vauxhall Conference side with a bit of luck.
As it was he had to content himself with setting up the first goal and scoring the equaliser from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half. The Second Division leaders, entering this stage of the competition for the first time in 12 years, could count themselves fortunate to secure a replay at the New Den a week next Tuesday. Only an inspired save by Tim Carter from Woking's opening goalscorer Stephen Foster at point blank range in the closing minutes saved Millwall's face and prevented Woking reaching the second round for the ninth successive season. "I take my hat off to them," Jimmy Nicholl, the Millwall manager, said.
Memories of that outrageous 4-2 win at The Hawthorns six seasons ago must have come flooding back for the Woking faithful when their side went ahead from their first attack. Walker was clearly in impish mood judging by the way he nutmegged Micky Harle. Still coming to terms with the frosty surface he just managed to keep his feet before crossing to the far post where Fosterclimbed highest to head home.
The quality of both Walker's shooting and distribution was an object lesson in accuracy to any watching youngster and it was just a pity he didn't score with one delightful chip which drifted fractionally wide.
Slowly Millwall edged their way back into the game and in the 19th minute a headed clearance by Kevan Brown was chested down by Dave Savage and half-volleyed straight back from whence it had come past Lawrence Batty in goal.
Millwall's finishing generally possessed a more clinical edge but they were a mite flattered when they took the lead nine minutes later, Stephen Crawford nimbly rounding Brown to drive low past Batty. 10 minutes after the restart the Cards exerted pressure once more and Robin Taylor might have won a penalty had he not sought to keep his feet when fouled. No matter. His ensuing shot was headed off the line by Harle who then clattered into Junior Hunter as he shaped to shoot. This time there was to be no reprieve for Millwall and the man with the surest touch on the park - Walker - duly sent Carter the wrong way from the penalty.
Woking (4-4-2): Batty; Howard, Brown, Foster, Taylor; S Wye, Jones, Thompson, Steele; Walker, Hunter (Hay, 84). Substitutes not used: Ellis, L Wye.
Millwall (3-5-2): Carter; Witter (Van Blerk, 66), Newman, Rogan; Hartley, Bowry, Neill, Savage, Harle (Lavin, 66); Crawford, Dair. Substitute not used: Webber.
Referee: G Willard (Worthing, Sussex).
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