Stevenage Boro 3 Woking 2 MARCUS CRAWLEY reports ONE of the most memorable derby clashes in years was decided in the most dramatic way on Tuesday night. With the four minutes of added time up, the points looked destined to be shared. But Steve Morison

Stevenage Boro 3 Woking 2

MARCUS CRAWLEY reports

ONE of the most memorable 'derby' clashes in years was decided in the most dramatic way on Tuesday night.

With the four minutes of added time up, the points looked destined to be shared. But Steve Morison and Craig Dobson - new additions to the Boro ranks in recent months - had other ideas.

Morison sped into the area and crossed for Dobson to head past Shwan Jalal. Cue mass hysteria around Broadhall Way, both in the stands and on the pitch.

Dobson was cautioned for peeling off his shirt but he could be forgiven on this occasion. A couple of thousand in the ground were probably of emulating his actions.

Boro boss Mark Stimson praised his matchwinner.

"The last goal was a fantastic move. Craig had a terrible 15 or 20 minutes in the half where he tried too many tricks.

"He didn't hide and credit to him for keeping his head up."

This was Boro's fourth successive win at Broadhall Way and they are now up in the top half of the table.

They fielded the same starting XI for the fourth match in a row and the same 16 as in Saturday's 2-1 home win over Halifax.

The Cards also had a familiar look about them with four ex-Boro men in their ranks - Gary MacDonald, Neil Smith, Craig McAllister and Ollie Berquez.

McAllister was the first to threaten when he was allowed too much space but could not hit the target.

Boro fans did not have to wait too long for their first roar of the evening.

Steve Guppy's precision left foot swung over a free-kick and Dwane Lee's glancing header nestled in the corner of Jalal's net.

Boro gifted Woking an equaliser on 15 minutes as the otherwise peerless Ronnie Henry lost possession with an ill-advised pass across the back.

The result was a foul given away and Karl Murray exacted the ultimate punishment with a quick free-kick which caught out the defensive wall and stranded keeper Alan Julian.

This was Woking's only real effort of the half and Boro were unfortunate not to restore their lead before the break.

Mark Beard's header which deflected into the side netting was a close affair.

And Jalal showed great reflexes to keep out a sharp Henry volley and Lee will be annoyed not to have scored his second header of the night in added time.

Guppy's delivery was a major factor of the half but he was forced off in the 54th minute, Jon Nurse coming on against the club where he recently spent a month on loan.

Giuseppe Sole fired wide in a Woking break but generally Boro held the monopoly on chances.

The deadline looked set to be broken midway through the half when a deep George Boyd corner saw Morison rise majestically at the back post. Only a desperate block by Boro old boy MacDonald kept the ball out.

Woking boss Glenn Cockerill made a double switch and his side looked to have stolen the points 11 minutes from the end.

Boro misfit Berquez grabbed the goal, his first effort blocked by Barry Fuller but the rebound fell into his path to send the away fans in the Buildbase Stand into ecstasy.

A bizarre moment handed Boro a lifeline - literally - on 83 minutes.

Murray marred a fine display by handling an innocuous cross to earn Boro a penalty. John Nutter displayed nerves of steel and buried his spot-kick straight down the middle of Jalal's goal.

The excitement was not over, not by a long way. Added time was already being played when Murray almost atoned by his gaffe, his cross-shot almost skimming the Boro bar.

Then came the late heroics from Dobson and three more welcome points.

Stimson added: "I think people got value for money. We want them to come and stay until the final whistle."

# BORO face trips to Rushden and Southport in the next week.

The trip to Rushden and Diamonds is tomorrow (Friday) night due to this Saturday's England international.

A long trip to Southport follows on Tuesday night.

The games are coming thick and fast for all the teams but Mark Stimson said: "When you win football matches, you don't feel tired."

MATCH FACTS

BORO v Woking

15......................Goal attempts......................12

5......................Shots on target......................3

10......................Shots off target......................9

0......................Hit woodwork......................0

1......................Offsides......................2

12......................Free-kicks......................15

12......................Corners......................10

TEAM: Julian 7, Fuller 7, Nutter 7, Gaia 7, Boyd 8, Lee 8*, Morison 8, Guppy 7 (Nurse 54m, 7), Dobson 7, Henry 7, Beard 7.

SubS not used: Oliver, Stamp, Deen, Potter.

BOOKED: Gaia 81m, Dobson 90m.

ATT: 2,410.

REF: Mr A Hendley.

# Subs must play at least 20 minutes to earn a player rating.