Woking 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
Vanarama National League
28th August 2023

Following Saturday’s victory at Gateshead, Darren Sarll made two changes to the victorious side, with Luke Wilkinson and Ricky Korboa both in for Scott Cuthbert, rested, whilst Rhys Browne dropped out entirely after coming off injured. For the visitors, the most notable absence was that of talisman Jason Prior, who picked up an injury in Wanderers’ 2-2 draw with York, despite notching his fourth goal in five games.

In the Bank Holiday sunshine, both sides came out the tunnel to a rapture of applause from the 3206 spectators inside the Laithwaite, as Dorking kicked off towards the KRE. Inside the first 30 seconds, Woking carved through the away defence twice, with Jim Kellermann forcing a block, before Korboa’s shot was straight at Harrison Male.

Woking were nearly gifted an opener after eight minutes, when a stray back pass was reached by Padraig Amond, but a superb save from Male denied them, before good work down the wing found Matt Robinson, whose low shot was brilliantly saved by Male. Excellent work from Zak Bradshaw saw him fire a shot just wide of the Dorking goal, as the Cards had their tails up.

It would take until 34 minutes for Woking to take the lead, when Bradshaw’s cross wasn’t dealt with by the Wanderers defence, and Korboa lifted the ball over Male and into the back of the net to give the Cards a deserved lead.

That was how it stayed at half time, with the Cards unfortunate to not be further ahead, and the visitors in detriment to Male in goal for his work to prevent another goal or two.

Half-time: Woking 1-0 Dorking Wanderers

Woking began the second half strongly, with Amond and Korboa continuing their excellent link up, and when the Irish striker’s shot was supposedly blocked by a hand, the Cards couldn’t believe that the referee hadn’t pointed to the spot. Bradshaw then tested Male once again, forcing him into another smart stop, before Dorking created their first attack of the afternoon.

Good play from Seb Bowerman forced Will Jaaskelainen off his line to intercept the cross, which he punched away excellently, before Dan Pybus’ shot was comfortably into the Finnish stopper’s arms.

Ryan Seager forced a block from Bradshaw on 73 minutes after good build up play, before Male made yet another good save, when a combination of substitutes Dennon Lewis and Nana Boateng saw Amond’s backheel parried by the Dorking keeper.

Woking looked to have finally put the seal on victory on 85 minutes, when Boateng dispossessed a defender, and fed Lewis, who calmly finished past Male to send the KRE wild.

After Lewis found the side netting with the Dorking defence exposed, Woking saw out the seven minutes of added time for a comfortable victory. Six points over the Bank Holiday weekend, and two excellent performances to match.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Luke Wilkinson, Greg Taylor, Padraig Amond (Willmott 87'), Matt Robinson, Ricky Korboa (Lewis 74’), Tunji Akinola, Jim Kellermann (Boateng 77’), Zak Bradshaw.

Unused subs: Day, Habergham, Boateng

Goals: Korboa 34’, Lewis 85’

Bookings: Wilkinson 25’, Akinola 89'

Dorking: Harrison Male, Barry Fuller, Niall McManus (Lankshear 84’), Luke Moore, Tony Craig, Bobby-Joe Taylor, Dan Gallagher (Seager 45’), Josh Taylor, Seb Bowerman, Harry Ottaway, James McShane (Pybus 45’)

Unused subs: Kuhl, Kennedy

Referee: Ritchie Watkins

Attendance: 3206

Sponsor's Man of the Match: Jim Kellermann was exceptional once again in the heart of Woking's midfield, but in truth it could have been a number of Woking players.