For Hatters
Lloyd raced clear down the left as defender Jones appeared to lose his footing, and the former Fylde winger was left with the simplest of tasks to roll across goal for Ball to bundle home his, and County’s, second.
The half-time break came with the sides locked in an intriguing battle – County battered Woking into near-submission on a number of occasions, whereas the more clinical Woking scored with both of their real chances.
There were to be no changes during half-time, and County continued to knock at the door of their visitors, with Lloyd dragging wide from an excellent position, whilst the againoutstanding Montrose juggled skilfully past three defenders before seeing his close-range effort blocked at the last second.
More controversy greeted Ugwu’s second strike, though, when the Cards centre forward raced clear of final defender Chris Smalley – with Woking’s number nine looking suspiciously offside – before slotting low to Hinchliffe’s right and in off the upright to once again give the away side an unlikely lead.
The clinical National League side were taking their limited chances when they appeared, and Ugwu’s second seemed to finally knock the wind out of dominant County’s sails – with Hill’s men efficiently seeing out their win from there.
John Marsden and Kay Odejayi were introduced as County threw all but the kitchen sink at Woking, with time running out on The Hatters’ FA Cup campaign. In truth, though, there were few real chances in the final minutes for the home side – and substitute Fabio Saraiva emphatically hammered low past Hinchliffe in stoppage time to seal Woking’s route into the Second Round.
There was still applause from the home crowd for the sterling efforts of their side, after an enthralling mini-cup run over the past month lit up Edgeley Park. Woking earned a tough home tie against League Two high fliers Accrington in Monday’s draw for the Second Round, but the National League strugglers left Edgeley Park on Saturday with boss Hill admitting his side had been fortunate to escape unscathed from an admirable County showing.
For Gannon, a trip to mid-table Nuneaton, slowly turning around their poor start in the league, beckons – and all focus can now be turned to grabbing a so far elusive National League North play-off place, with Gannon hoping a cup run which illuminated fans and players alike can spur The Hatters on in their league campaign.