WORLDS APART
But at least Woking can afford a kettle now!
This clash of cultures was not what hG Wells envisaged when he penned his classic in Woking, but two worlds went to war in leafy surrey and the ‘glittering titans’ of the Premier League emerged as the victors.
Goals from Will hughes and Troy Deeney were enough to ensure the visitors from another planet suffered no mishaps in unfamiliar territory, against hosts who lurk 110 places below them in English football’s pyramid.
As Watford disappeared into the night, back to the Premier League and safely into the FA Cup fourth round, Woking manager Alan Dowson shared his plans for a boozy night out at his local working men’s club, playing darts and pool. ‘i’ll get lashed tonight and then be back in tomorrow,’ promised Gateshead-born Dowson. ‘i’m not into wine bars and that rubbish. i like to see proper people.’
he handed a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale over to Javi Gracia at the end of the tie and received sangria in return from Watford’s spanish boss. ‘i thought that was a bit tight, the brown ale was bigger,’ he joked, but he went home satisfied. Woking of the National League south had reason to celebrate despite defeat, having banked about £300,000 from TV rights and FA Cup prize money.
‘Don’t let anyone tell you the FA Cup is dead,’ beamed Dowson, who wants some of the windfall invested in a kettle for his office. ‘i have to walk about 20 miles for a cup of tea. it took three months to get a heater.’
Only in the FA Cup are such treats on offer and it must have been an eyeopener for Adalberto Penaranda, the highly-rated Venezuelan making his Watford debut. he soon became the focus of attention for home fans with his blond hair and fondness for an extravagant step-over.
Penaranda’s first effort, miscued from 25 yards, drew derisory cheers from behind the goal. his second was treated with more respect, a gasp in recognition of a curling effort which flashed off the surface and narrowly wide of the far post.
By half-time, they were jeering his every touch and cheering his mistakes. Although, by this stage of the game, Watford were comfortably in control and a goal up.
it was scored by hughes, who darted towards the edge of the penalty area to receive a corner taken by Adam Masina and swept it inside the far post. ‘Bad defending,’ fumed Dowson. ‘if it was a Premier League goal, you could accept it.’
Woking fans were undeterred. ‘We’ve got the ball, we’ve got the ball,’ they chorused when they finally seized possession.
it didn’t last for long and when the visitors won it back, they switched the lyrics to ‘ We’ve lost the ball.’
A titter rippled around the ground. And a great roar went up when assista n t referee stephen Child was jettisoned over the advertising boards by burly isaac success in pursuit of a bouncing ball, right under the noses of those who stand in what is known as Moaner’s Corner.
‘That’s Entertainment’ to quote local music legend Paul Weller, whose music crackled through the Kingfield public address system.
On the pitch, Dowson’s blend of amateurs and on-loan professionals were focused, committed and determined, hurling their bodies to make blocks and smother Watford.
Tom Cleverley, whose father’s uncle Reg stratton played for Woking when they won the Amateur Cup in 1958, rattled the bar with a free-kick.
A photograph of Uncle Reg, who passed away last year, hangs in the clubhouse.
‘This is what the FA Cup is all about,’ said Cleverley, on his first start since an achilles operation. ‘The fan interaction, walking from the bus to the changing room, is something you don’t get in the Premier League.
‘All of us have come from workingclass backgrounds and have played for our school teams and gone out on loan at lower-league clubs, especially the British lads. We knew what to expect.’
At times it was too comfortable for Watford. They lost all sense of the urgency to make their possession count until Gracia sent on Deeney and Ken sema to provide the jolt required. Almost immediately, sema’s cross was tucked away by Deeney.
Woking return to their quest for promotion from the National League south. ‘if half of you lot can turn up on Wednesday, that’ll be great,’ was the quip as the attendance of more than 5,700 was confirmed at the end of the game.