AFC Fylde 0-2 Woking
Vanarama National League
30th September 2023

Woking travelled up to Mill Farm to take on AFC Fylde on the back of consecutive defeats. Darren Sarll made two changes to the side defeated at Wealdstone on Tuesday night; Luke Wilkinson and Dennon Lewis replaced Greg Taylor and Timi Odusina, whilst there was a return to the bench for Sam Habergham and Reece Grego-Cox after their recoveries from injury, along with new signing Lewis Walker, the striker who joined on loan from Gillingham on Friday.

The hosts kicked off towards the away end, and for the first ten minutes, most of the action came in the middle of the park, until a couple of Woking corners first saw Fylde striker Gold Omotayo head precariously over his own bar, before Scott Cuthbert couldn’t keep his header down after good work from Zak Bradshaw.

After Dennon Lewis was fouled around 25 to 30 yards out, a free kick was given and Padraig Amond hit the ball into the top corner, beating the outstretched dive of Theo Richardson and giving Woking the lead after 14 minutes. A memorable strike, and his first free kick goal since last November against Altrincham.

A bizarre incident saw the linesman unable to continue following an injury, which disrupted the game for about nine minutes, as 13 minutes of first half injury time were signalled. Woking continued to dominate play, and after good link up between Jim Kellermann and Dan Moss, Bradshaw couldn’t quite get on the end of the defender’s low cross.

There was still time for Bradshaw to force a good low save out of Richardson, before Omotayo did the same to Jaaskelainen and then half time eventually came, with Woking deservedly leading thanks to Amond’s superb free kick.

Half-time: AFC Fylde 0-1 Woking
Lewis Walker replaced Pavey at half time for his first appearance in a Woking shirt, as Danny Whitehead fired over for the hosts straight from kick off following good play from Jon Ustabasi, with the hosts coming out of the blocks quickly.

Josh Kay’s run past several Woking players saw him fire a shot at Jaaskelainen before Woking broke down the left-hand side. Casey gave Lewis the ball out wide, and his cross was met by Walker to give him his first Woking goal, heading in from close range.

With 74 minutes gone, good play from Ustabasi and Omotayo gave Kay a chance to shoot, but Jaaskelainen comfortably parried the ball behind for a corner. Fylde had claims for a penalty waved away when Tunji Akinola’s seemingly mistimed challenge brought down Kyron Gordon, but referee Aaron Jackson waved the claims away.

With four minutes to go, a Woking corner caused chaos in the Fylde box, and Amond’s header looped off the crossbar not once, but twice with the Cards looking to put the seal on things. Six minutes of injury time were seen out comfortably and the Cards were back to winning ways. A great performance, dominant throughout and rewarded with a clean sheet, as Darren Sarll's side will look forward to Tuesday night's game against FC Halifax Town at the Laithwaite.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey (Habergham 69’), Scott Cuthbert, Luke Wilkinson, Padraig Amond, Dennon Lewis (Taylor 77’), Tunji Akinola, Alfie Pavey (Walker 45’), Jim Kellermann, Zak Bradshaw.

Unused subs: RGC, Odusina

Goals: Amond 14’, Walker 52’

Bookings: Lewis 27’, Wilkinson 53’

AFC Fylde: Theo Richardson, Kyron Gordon, Luke Conlan, Emeka Obi (Whitmore 45’ (Glynn 62’)), Gold Omotayo, Josh Kay, Sam Graham, Connor Barrett (Haughton 41’), Jon Ustabasi, Danny Whitehead, Taelor O’Kane

Unused subs: Philliskirk, Charman

Bookings: O’Kane 57’

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 1053

Man of the Match: A number of excellent performances, but Dennon Lewis was excellent in his first start since returning from injury, getting an assist and tormenting the Fylde back line for 77 minutes.