ON-THE-WHISTLE-REPORT: WOKING 1, PETERBOROUGH UNITED 1: Posh lucky to still be in the FA Cup

They were outplayed for virtually the entire 90 minutes by National League Woking today (December 3). The non-leaguers saw a penalty saved and struck the crossbar with the final kick of the match.

Posh had taken the lead through centre back Ryan Tafazolli on 24 minutes and led until the 84th minute when star home player Joe Ward rammed home an equaliser, the very least Woking deserved.

Bond then produced a superb double save and a deep cross from Ward rattled the crossbar with the Posh ‘keeper beaten in the 93rd and final minute.

Bond had saved a first-half penalty from Chez Isaac after a foul by Alexy Penny.

Unsurprisingly Posh named the same starting line-up that played so well at Charlton last time out, but the performance level dipped dramatically.

Most of the poise, the pretty football and the penetration came from the home side, but it was Posh who took the lead in the 24th minute following their first venture into the home area.

Perhaps predictably it was a Marcus Maddison set piece that created the goal. Jack Marriott should have celebrated the birth of his son with a goal, but his header was parried by Woking ‘keeper Nathan Baxter only for Ryan Tafazolli to convert the rebound from close range.

Woking had already wasted an indirect free kick in the Posh penalty area before the opening goal and they could have converted a couple of decent headed chances, but their best opportunity to equalise arrived five minutes before the break when Penny hauled Inih Effiong to the ground (no mean feat given the size of the Woking striker) as they contested a long, high ball.

The penalty award was obvious, but Posh ‘keeper Jonathan Bond came to the rescue with a fine low save.

Posh started to create more in the second part of the half. One fine move saw Maddison free Leo Da Silva Lopes on the edge of the area, but Gwion Edwards couldn’t quite reach his cross.

Marriott then played Edwards into the area and his shot from a tight angle appeared to be saved by Baxter, but a goal-kick was awarded.

Posh seemed content to sit back and settle for 1-0 in the second half and it eventually bit them in the bottom.

Madadison did send a free kick from the halfway line just wide after spotting Baxter off his line, but only a Maddison cross which was palmed away just out of Marriott’s reach troubled Baxter thereafter.

Woking ramped up the pressure late on and gained their reward of a replay when Penny was skinned, Andrew Hughes mickicked a clearance and Tafazolli then booted the ball against Anthony Grant.

The ball was crossed again, this time it reached Ward who slammed the ball past Bond even though he was hobbling badly.

It was a late leveller, but it was Posh who dodged the bullet.

Posh: Jonathan Bond, Alex Penny, Andrew Hughes, Steven Taylor, Ryan Tafazolli, Anthony Grant, Chris Forrester, Gwion Edwards (sub Jack Baldwin, 85 mins), Marcus Maddison, Leo Da Silva Lopes, Jack Marriott.

Unused substitutes: Ricky Miller, Jermaine Anderson, Danny Lloyd, Conor O’Malley, Michael Doughty, Idris Kanu.

Woking: Nathan Baxter, Louis Ramsey (sub Matt Young, 63 mins), Joey Jones, Jordan Wynter, Nathan Ralph, Chez Isaac, Kane Ferdinand, Charlie Carter (sub Jamie Philpot,74 mins), Regan Charles-Cook, Joe Ward, Inih Effiong.

Unused substitutes: Jason Banton, Fabio Saraiva, Joshua Staunton, Sam Mason, Declan Appau.

Goals: Posh - Tafazolli (24 mins).

Woking - Ward (84 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Marriott (foul).

Referee: Chris Sarginson 8

Attendance: 3,032 (684 Posh).