Gateshead 1-3 Woking
Vanarama National League
26th August 2023

Woking’s first game of the August Bank Holiday weekend saw the Cards travel up to Gateshead for their longest trip of the season. Following a disappointing defeat to Barnet last week, Darren Sarll made four changes to his side, with Joe Day and Sam Habergham dropping to the bench in place of Will Jaaskelainen and Josh Casey, whilst there was a return for Jim Kellermann and a debut for new midfielder Zak Bradshaw, who has signed on loan from Ipswich Town. Dennon Lewis and Charlie Wakefield missed out entirely after starting last week.

Woking kicked off from left to right at the Gateshead International Stadium, but it was the hosts that very nearly struck first. Three minutes in, Stephen Wearne got in behind the offside trap, before firing his shot over the bar with the goal gaping.

With ten minutes gone, the Cards had their first chance of the game. Good work from Rhys Browne and Padraig Amond saw both have shots blocked, but the ball fell to Bradshaw, who couldn’t quite finish whilst leaning back.

After Browne went off following a knock, he was replaced by Ricky Korboa, and the winger forced a smart save out of Archie Mair at his near post. Just moments later, Gateshead took the lead. An excellent through ball from Wearne found Dinanga, who finished powerfully into the near post.

Just before half time, a flick from Amond found Korboa, who fired a shot towards Mair’s top left corner, but it was well saved by the Heed stopper.

Half-time: Gateshead 1-0 Woking

With just over three minutes gone of the second half, a mistake from Gateshead at the back opened the door for Korboa, who teed up Kellermann, and the midfielder hit the ball powerfully past Mair to give Woking a leveller.

After Cuthbert headed a Casey free kick just wide, both sides spurned golden chances. Firstly, a cross from Hannant found Dinanga with the goal gaping, but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet, before Bradshaw teed up Amond, but after a neat turn, his curling finish went just wide of the far post.

But Woking took the lead on 61 minutes when superb work from Korboa saw him beat his man, before an exceptional left footed cross was met by the head of Amond to send the travelling Cards wild.

After a quiet or so 25 minutes, the combination of Wearne and substitute Aidan Rutledge led to the latter wondering how he hadn’t scored, but there was a sucker punch to come for the Heed.

Substitute Nana Boateng teed up Bradshaw, who rounded Mair and tapped the ball into an empty net for a debut goal, to surely seal the points for the Cards. There was still time for Rutledge to wonder how he hadn't scored once again, when his header somehow went over the bar from close range. After nine minutes of injury time, Woking were victorious, a reward for those 88 fans who made the journey and were vocal throughout.

Woking will hope to carry this momentum into Monday's Surrey clash with Dorking Wanderers at the Laithwaite.


Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Scott Cuthbert, Greg Taylor (Wilkinson 75’), Padraig Amond, Matt Robinson, Rhys Browne (Korboa 17’), Tunji Akinola, Jim Kellermann (Boateng 70’), Zak Bradshaw.

Unused subs: Day, Wilkinson, Habergham

Goals: Kellermann 48’, Amond 61’, Bradshaw 88’

Bookings: Robinson 43’, Kellermann 45+3, Boateng 72’, Bradshaw 84’, Cuthbert 90+8

Gateshead: Archie Mair, Louis Storey, Kenton Richardson, Regan Booty, Jordan Hunter, Luke Hannant (Allan 89’), Greg Olley (Rutledge 83’), Ed Francis, Stephen Wearne, Connor McBride (Chadwick 70’), Marcus Dinanga

Unused subs: Tinkler, Grayson

Goals: Dinanga 22’

Bookings: Olley 56’

Referee: Richard Aspinall

Man of the Match: Ricky Korboa had an outstanding game off the bench, with two assists contributing hugely to the turnaround.