Cambridge United 1 Woking 0
A heartbreaking late winner dashed Woking’s hopes of edging closing to the 50 point survival target manager Garry Hill set at the start of the season.
It seemed as though the Cards were heading for a first at Cambridge - a first 0-0 draw of the season.
The last time they recorded that score was way back in October 2011 against Salisbury City, but Tom Shaw capitalised on Seb Brown’s error to hand the U’s all three points deep into added time.
The home side’s goal rubbed more salt in Woking’s wounds as moments before the Cards should have been awarded a penalty after Jayden Stockley was brought down.
Ref Robbie Whitton’s decision not to point to the penalty spot left Hill furious. He said: "You could see quite clearly from our end that the Cambridge player grabbed him (Jayden Stockley).
"I cannot believe what I have seen in respect of the referee just waved his arms as if nothing had happened. Why didn’t he book him for diving? It was a very, very bad decision from the referee. Any person in the ground today would say that it was an out and out blatant penalty. I just cannot believe what I have seen."
Cambridge had all of the play in the first 15 minutes. Nathan Blissett’s flicked shot was held by Brown at his near post before the former Kidderminster man, who had troubled Woking at Kingfield earlier this season, headed wide from eight yards.
Lee Sawyer returned to the starting XI following his four game ban but even the exuberant creative midfielder couldn’t weather the U’s early storm.
But the former Chelsea and Southend youngster put in a put in a good performance to satisfy his boss.
Hill said: "He’s a good player (Lee Sawyer) and everyone knows that. There’s no secret about it, Lee let himself down in a bad way. He’s been disciplined by the club, disciplined by myself and he’s taken his punishment and accepts it.
"We’ve had a meeting and a chat with him and told him the standards we expect and need on and off the field."
John Nutter put in a low cross out of Sawyer's reach which was as close as Woking struggled to have an impact in the opening 45.
Hill knew his side were in good shape to come away with three points going into the second periods but rued his side's missed chances.
The gaffer moaned: "I felt confident we could go on and win the game. Second half we had some good opportunities and we were trying to win the game, there’s no doubt about that."
Kevin Betsy should have put Woking ahead when he found some space at the back stick - but his effort only found the side netting.
Then came the game's flash point as Cards were denied a spot kick after being bundled to the ground when free in the box.
Hill was seething at Whitton’s decision and waited around at full time for an explanation.
He raged: "I’m disappointed with the referee. I’ll go and see him but that’s not going to achieve anything. I’d like to know how he’s made his decision, why he’s made his decision and if he can explain it to me I’d like to hear what he says."
And it went from bad to worse for Woking in the third of three added minutes when Brown failed to punch the ball clearCurtis Haynes-Brown's cross.
The delivery fell to Tom Shaw who with all but the last touch of the game headed into the far corner to give the U’s the three points.
Hill made it clear his keeper should have dealt with the situation.
"From where I am he should have dealt with it better. We’ll have a look at it, I’ve got a view at the moment but I’d like to see it again. It does hurt, there’s no doubt about that but when you see the events in the last two or three minutes of the game it is hard to accept."