GARRY HILL believes that his Woking side have cause for optimism despite conceding two late goals to lose 4-3 at National League high-flyers Forest Green on Saturday afternoon.
Joey Jones and Gozie Ugwu completed a turnaround after Keanu Marsh-Brown’s opener but goals from Christian Doidge and a brace from Omar Bugiel put Forest Green 4-2 up.
Terrell Thomas then scored his second goal in three games to set up a tense final, but after the defeat, Hill was pleased with the football that his side are playing and told Woking FC TV:
Woking celebrate Joey Jones’ equaliser. Photo by David Holmes – a full set can be viewed at www.wokingfc.co.uk
“It is a heartbreaker, I’m pleased with the commitment and the way we’re playing. We’ve come here and been on the front foot and not sat back and parked the bus.
“We made it very tough for them, they’re a good side and I don’t think they’ve played us off the park. There’s no disgrace in getting beat by teams challenging for the title.
“Losing 4-3 by being on the front foot, standing up and playing the football and showing the character and bravery we’re showing is only good for us going forward.”
It is the second time this season where Woking have scored three goals in a game and have not come away with all three points after the 3-3 draw with Eastleigh in October, and Hill was disappointed that his side failed to come away with any points.
He said: “Whoever you’re playing, whether its home or away, if you go and score 3 goals, you expect to get a result.
“I’m not saying we should have won the game but we came here and gave a good account of ourselves and on another day, we could’ve walked away with a point and we’re frustrated.”
The loss leaves the Cards just outside the relegation zone on goal difference, level on points with Maidstone United.
With just 12 games left of the current season, the Woking manager has called on the appropriate people to help Woking climb up the table, but believes his squad are in a good place.
KING OF THE HILL: Woking manager Garry Hill believes in his squad to fire them out of a relegation battle. [Photo by David Holmes – a full set can be viewed at www.wokingfc.co.uk]
“The club have got some very good players and some young, quality players. Hopefully common sense prevails that people in the right areas sort things out sooner rather than later because you can’t keep pulling magic boxes out under the cupboards.”
Next up for Woking is a home tie against fifth-placed Dover on Tuesday, who are two points inside the play-off positions.
The Whites are coming off the back of a 3-0 thrashing of Eastleigh where the National League’s top-scorer Ricky Miller took his tally to 30 goals with a brilliant hat-trick.
Despite the league positions, Hill predicts a tough game but believes if his side continued their level of performance, they it will be entertaining for the fans.
He said: “Dover are another big, strong and physical side. We know the way they play and if we show the commitment we’ve shown recently, hopefully we can give them a good game.”
Radio Woking Sport will be providing LIVE commentary of the game as well as updates from Aldershot Town vs Eastleigh. Join Daniel Corr with all the build-up and commentary will be provided by Scott Taylor and Peter Moore.