FOOTBALL: Final thrust from Fielder

FOOTBALL

RUPERT METCALF

reports from Wembley

Kidderminster Harriers 1

Woking 2

(aet: score at 90min 1-1)

Just when a replay seemed inevitable, up popped Woking's outstanding player, Colin Fielder, to decide the FA Trophy final with a winner three minutes from the end of extra time.

The Surrey side yesterday become only the second in the tournament's history, after Scarborough, to retain the Trophy. They had taken the lead with an outstanding first-minute goal, only to see Kidderminster draw level in the 46th minute.

Woking won a corner inside 30 seconds, from which the ball was cleared as far as Scott Steele, wide on the left. The former Airdrie forward drifted inside, accelerated past two defenders and struck a curling shot past Kevin Rose from 20 yards.

That set the scene for a splendid first half, with both sides throwing men forward. Harriers' most threatening weapon was the aerial dominance of their centre-half, Chris Brindley, at set pieces while, for Woking, the wily Clive Walker - the 37-year-old former Chelsea forward - was always dangerous.

Kidderminster's veteran striker Paul Davies had a headed "goal" disallowed for offside, but they should have equalised five minutes before the interval, when Delwyn Humphreys, clean through, fell over the ball with only Laurence Batty to beat. However, soon after the break a misguided header by the otherwise impeccable Fielder allowed Humphreys and Mark Yates to set up Davies for a tap-in.

Fielder came closest to a winner in normal time when his 25-yard free- kick was tipped over by Rose with 11 minutes to go. His moment of glory arrived deep into the extra period, though, to provide Woking with a winner that neither side truly deserved. Shane Wye's right-wing corner was headed back from beyond the far post by Mark Tucker, and Fielder's forehead, from five yards' range, did the rest.

Kidderminster Harriers (4-4-2): Rose; Hodson, Brindley (Cartwright, 93), Webb, Bancroft; Forsyth, Deakin, Yates, Purdie; Humphreys (Hughes, 106), Davies. Substitute not used: Dearlove (gk).

Woking (3-4-1-2): Batty; K Brown, Fielder, Tucker; Crumplin (Rattray, h-t), S Wye, Ellis, L Wye; Steele; Walker, Hay (Newbery, 111). Substitute not used: Read (gk).

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).