Woking 1-1 Solihull Moors
Vanarama National League
9th September 2023

On a boiling hot Saturday afternoon, where temperatures were above 30c, Woking welcomed Solihull Moors to the Laithwaite, who included former Card Connor Hall on their bench, with Moors being the only unbeaten side left in the league.

Darren Sarll made two changes to the side who held Maidenhead United to a goalless draw last time out, with Greg Taylor and Matt Robinson dropping to the bench for Luke Wilkinson and Manny Oyeleke, with the latter making his first league start since signing from Chesterfield in the summer.

Woking kicked off towards the Leslie Gosden Stand, but it was the Moors who thought they had taken the lead after 5 minutes after Josh Kelly headed past Will Jaaskelainen, but the linesman immediately put his flag up for offside.
However, 17 minutes in, an excellent through ball from Jamey Osborne saw Kelly through on goal, and his finish was rolled into the back of the net.

After another Moors move saw the linesman put his flag up again, Woking had a golden chance to level. A great ball from Zak Bradshaw saw Ricky Korboa brought down by Tommy Simkin, and the referee pointed to the spot. However, Padraig Amond’s penalty was well saved by Simkin down the middle.

Korboa kept hunting for the equaliser, and his shot from just inside the box stung the palms of Simkin on 28 minutes, before a rather bizarre moment saw a good chance for the visitors spurned.

A harmless cross looked to be dealt with by Jaaskelainen, but a touch from Dan Moss meant that when the Finn picked up the ball, referee Aaron Farmer signalled for an indirect free kick for a pass back. Matty Warburton blasted the ball wide of Jaaskelainen’s near post with nearly every Woking player positioned on the line.

With the extreme heat having an effect on what was a relatively flat last 20 minutes, the away side went into half time one up, after Amond’s penalty miss left Woking goalless.

Half-time: Woking 0-1 Solihull

Darren Sarll made a change at half time, replacing Jim Kellermann with Jermaine Anderson, and the Cards had their leveller on 53 minutes. A superb header from Tunji Akinola saw the ball drop inside the box for Amond, whose finish was calm and composed past Simkin.

However, another brilliant through ball saw Callum Maycock spurn a golden chance straight from kick off, as the midfielder raced through on goal, but was denied by the inside of the post with Jaaskelainen well beaten.

On 75 minutes, great work from Robinson saw his cut back fired just over by Anderson, with Woking beginning to dominate the play.

After a Woking break into stoppage time, Nana Boateng’s cut back was clearly blocked by a hand, but somehow referee Aaron Farmer waved the appeals away. A Josh Casey corner was met by Scott Cuthbert, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.

That was it as the unbeaten Moors kept their record, with Woking feeling slightly aggrieved near the end, but a point means it’s four unbeaten for the Cards, and a strong second half showing means there’s reasons for optimism ahead of next week’s trip to Hartlepool.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Scott Cuthbert, Luke Wilkinson, Padraig Amond, Manny Oyeleke (Robinson 60’), Ricky Korboa (Boateng 85’), Tunji Akinola, Jim Kellermann (Anderson 45’), Zak Bradshaw.

Unused subs: Willmott, Taylor

Goals: Amond 53’

Bookings: Oyeleke 18’, Boateng 89’, Oyeleke 92’

Solihull Moors: Tommy Simkin, James Clarke, Jamey Osborne, Kyle Morrison, Callum Maycock, Josh Kelly (Beck 77’), Matty Warburton (Stevens 69’), Gus Mafuta, Richard Stearman, Jay Benn, Kade Craig

Unused subs: Newton, Brogan, Hall

Goals: Kelly 17’

Bookings: Mafuta 24’, Clarke 40’, Morrison 79’

Referee: Aaron Farmer

Attendance: 2524

Man of the Match: Ricky Korboa