ANTHONY LIMBRICK has admitted that he was disappointed but would have taken a point after their 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United at the Laithwaite’s Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Donaldson put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute, before Jamie Philpot equalised with his second goal in as many games on the stroke of half-time.
Both sides hit the woodwork in a second half that was dominated by the Cards, but despite this, Limbrick highlighted how far his side have come after drawing to a former Football League side.
He told Woking FC TV: “If you said at the start of the season we’d be playing Hartlepool and be disappointed with the draw at home, you would have said we had a good performance and we did have a good performance.”
“The players are disappointed that we didn’t win. We had the chance where we hit the crossbar right at the end where you think if you’ve taken that then 2-1 would have been a great result for us. However, equally for them we had a defensive mix-up and they could have snatched in 2-1 but we’ll take a draw certainly.”
Hartlepool dominated the possession in the early stages in the light drizzle on this autumnal day, and took the lead when Donaldson headed in Jonathan Franks’ mistimed shot.
Despite the stroke of luck, the Woking boss highlighted how his players could have done better in stopping the initial cross-cum-shot from Franks, but was pleased with the response his side gave.
“We’d probably want someone to get close down the throw-in to stop that initial shot but they got a little bit lucky but we dealt with that well, we still kept playing and our heads didn’t drop at all.
“To get the goal before half-time from our set-play I thought we deserved it so we were happy to go in at 1-1 at half-time.”
The former League Two side were shook up after Woking’s equaliser and the hosts carried on their momentum into second, and to have a team such as Hartlepool on the ropes pleased Limbrick, highlighting how far his side have come in recent weeks.
“I think as well at times in the second half they dropped off and defended their box which is credit to us in the way that we’ve been passing and playing that a team like that will come there and do that.”
“That’s a credit to us at how we’ve been playing at home and our home form. They were hard to break down, well organised and they’ve got good coaching staff and you can tell they’ve done their homework.
“It was a different challenge to us, we haven’t had a team do that to us as much at home and one we’ll learn from and develop from.”
Woking slip to seventh in the National League table following the point, but are just two points off the league leaders Dover Athletic, with the top ten separated by just three points.
Last season the Cards were in a relegation battle, but have started the season off in tremendous form, and Limbrick wants his side to continue to progress and play in the big games.
He added: “We were disappointed especially with the chance at the end but the players want to play the best teams and they want to play in front of the most fans and the fans were great to us.”
“They made a great atmosphere for the whole game but especially towards the end of the game they were willing us on to get that goal. If you said at the start of the season you’d draw at home to Hartlepool you’d have taken the point but we’re a bit disappointed and there’s no doubt they’re a good side and a strong side in this league.”