After last week, it was pleasantly surprising to get to this match and for us still to win. At least this confirms that I am not a jinx !-)
David Atkinson
Given Carlisle's poor start to the season, most pundits had this FA Cup first round tie as another chapter in Woking's glorious giant killing history. How wrong they were, as the Cumbrians brushed aside their opponents from the Nationwide Conference with consummate ease.
The one sided match proved to be a monumental landmark for home striker Ian Stevens who bagged four goals for the first time in his career, while Scott Dobie added a fifth to seal the rout.
The reward facing Carlisle is a second round trip to Jan Molby's Kidderminster or Nigel Clough's Burton Albion who replay on Tuesday week with the latter having home advantage.
The performance left manager Ian Atkins in a buoyant mood. He said: " The most pleasing thing for me was the second half because, at 3-0, it's easy just to sit back and suddenly get very sloppy. I asked the players to keep going and do the same as thy did in the first half, and we did and got another couple of goals. The big thing as well is it gives us two wins on the trot and that will give the players confidence. We got balls in good areas again today and Ian Stevens showed how clinical he is. We can go to Hull next Saturday and do the same things again."
The home side took only 14 minutes to break down Woking's stubborn resistance as Ian Stevens Steven's headed home unchallenged at the far post from a deep right wing cross from Mark Birch.
Seven minutes later a clinical through ball from skipper Stuart Whitehead was perfect for Ian Stevens' immaculately timed run, allowing the striker to shoot across the advancing Vince Matassa into the bottom corner.
Woking's first attempt on goal came on 27 minutes when Steve West's snap shot went the wrong side of Matty Glennon's post.
The home side's dominance continued with Stevens shooting straight at Matassa from Scott Dobie's cross, closely followed by Tony Hemmings shooting wildly over the bar from Stevens' through ball.
The inevitable third goal came on 31 minutes when Ian Stevens completed his hat trick in clinical fashion following a defence splitting pass from Mick Galloway.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Mark Winstanley shooting over from Stevens' cross after 55 minutes. A minute later, Dobie pulled his shot wide of an open goal, after rounding the keeper and then headed a Birch cross wide.
On 60 minutes Woking's Martin Randall was unlucky to see his fierce shot parried away by Glennon for Birch to hook to safety.
Eight minutes later a quick double put the match beyond doubt as Stevens' bagged his fourth, heading home a Birch cross and Dobie got the fifth with a cheeky back heel from Gordon Connolly's cross.
The away side managed a consolation goal on 72 minutes when West headed home a Roddis corner.
Mike Corry
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