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This was always going to be a difficult game for Merton Juniors against Premier Division opposition, and so it proved.  Woking, currently 5th of 11 in the Surrey Primary League, wrapped up this cup tie by netting three times inside the opening 20 minutes as Merton turned in a poor first-half performance. 

The game started badly for Merton. After one minute the defence was caught too far upfield as a Woking forward raced onto a good through ball and then skillfully chipped Stuart Reddington.  The visitors looked very strong in defence and midfield and were blessed with skilful and pacy forwards.  Merton had great difficulty in stringing any passes together and found themselves two down on 11 minutes.  Woking forced a corner and poor defending allowed a striker time to lash in a powerful shot from close range that Suart Reddington almost saved.  Merton pushed forward under the prompting of Jamie Streat, but the quality of the Woking defence was such that hardly anything got through to Craig Stanley and Jack Malin.  Merton were restricted to a good effort from distance by Daniel Johnson, but the shot just cleared the bar.  This did little to spur Merton on and the Cougars extended their lead four minutes later.  A killer ball split the Merton defence, and a forward headed towards goal for a good finish.  Adam Marie apart, the Merton defence were having a torrid time as uncharacteristic mistakes showed gaping holes in the recently water-tight defence.  Eventually Merton buckled as Woking scored a fourth on 23 minutes.  A corner was not dealt with and from within the goal area the ball was forced over the line via Lewis West.  Three minutes before the interval Jamie Streat won and converted a penalty after a defender failed to win the ball cleanly.

The second half opened and Woking brought a good save out of Stuart Reddington.  Woking were still well on top, and should have extended their lead after a forward was brought down inside the area.  However, the spot kick was driven wide of the target.  Jack Malin and George King then switched positions, and from this point on Merton began to have a bit more purpose about them.  Billy Kelly and Adam Marie were doing well at the back, and Jack Malin was containing most of the raids down the Woking left.  Nevertheless Merton conceded a fifth goal on 43 minutes when a forward broke through on the right and netted with an excellent shot.  Two minutes later, after good approach play from Eddie Lyne and Jamie Streat, the Woking defence made a rare error to let in Craig Stanley for a cool finish.  Woking raced straight back down the other end and Stuart Reddington was beaten by a strong shot from inside the box.  It looked a certain goal until Jack Malin made a terrific clearance off the line.  The last ten minutes was notable for Merton as they finally succeeded in creating several moves that put Woking on the back foot.  Again most of the creativity came from Eddie Lyne and Jamie Streat as two clear-cut chances were made for the Merton strikers.  First Craig Stanley had a goalbound shot blocked by a superb saving tackle, and then George King blazed wide of a gaping goal after some mayhem in the Woking area.

Reporter's man of the match: Jamie Streat

Team: Stuart Reddington; Adam Marie, Lewis West,Jonathan Kehoe, Spud Bradley; George King, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, Eddie Lyne; Jack Malin, Craig Stanley. Sub: Billy Kelly.