sending a parameter in the GET request

Hi
I have a variable called webSessionId, which holds a websocket session id.
I need to append this value to a websocket request:

In the websocket sampler (I am using a plugin from github for the websocket
protocol) I appended the variable name to path like so:

path: /socket.io/1/websocket/$webSessionId$

Is this the right way to do it ? The goal is to pass the websocket session
id along with the request..
for e.g
GET /socket.io/1/websocket/qp4KB2geQNu9vS-MMmYy

This websocket request fails when replaying. Debug sampler shows the
variable has the right value. In view results tree, I do not see the actual
request for this request. Request tab is empty. Sampler Results tab shows
response code as 200 - no helpful message there..

my application server logs show the following:
...
info: handshake authorized qp4KB2geQNu9vS-MMmYy
debug: setting request GET /socket.io/1/websocket/$webSessionId$
debug: set heartbeat interval for client $webSessionId$
debug: websocket writing 7:::1+0
warn: client not handshaken client should reconnect
info: transport end (error)
debug: set close timeout for client $webSessionId$
...
...

Wondering if the way I parameterized the request was correct or not.

thanks.