Aldershot Town 0-0 Woking
Vanarama National League
26th December 2023

Woking travelled to Aldershot for the annual Boxing Day clash at the EBB Stadium. In what was Michael Doyle’s first away game in charge, the Irishman made two changes to the side cancelled out by Maidenhead on Saturday, with Scott Cuthbert missing out through illness. He was replaced by Timi Odusina, whilst Rohan Ince replaced Tunji Akinola, who dropped to the bench.

The hosts kicked off in front of a crowd of over 5000 towards the East Bank, but it would be the Cards who created the first chance after six minutes. Good work between Dennon Lewis and Padraig Amond saw the latter cross for Jim Kellermann, but a combination of him and Jordi van Stappershoef saw the ball go behind for a goal kick.

Another good passage of play for the Cards saw former Shot Manny Oyeleke play a superb pass into Amond, but his low shot was well saved by the feet of van Stappershoef on 12 minutes. Another cross, this time from Lewis on 18 minutes found Amond's head at the near post, but he couldn't quite convert.

The first Aldershot chance of the game came just after half an hour when Lorent Tolaj nipped in behind the Woking defence, but couldn't fire the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle. Aldershot had the ball in the net on 37 minutes when Ollie Harfield's shot was only parried by Alexis Andre, and a follow up effort from Tolaj bounced to Stuart O'Keefe who headed home, but he was offside and Woking had a reprieve.

Half time arrived with the Cards on top, but with Aldershot showing plenty of threat in the last ten minutes of the half.


Half-time: Aldershot Town 0-0 Woking


Woking kicked off the second half towards the East Bank, and it would be the Cards who created the first opening of the half. Lewis once again crossing towards Amond, but Cian Harries managed to turn the ball just past his own post and behind for a corner.

After 66 minutes, a well worked short corner from the Cards saw Browne's swerving shot parried away by van Stappershoef, before just a minute later, Tolaj let fly from 25 yards and forced a good save from Andre Jr, his shot dipping towards the top corner.
A swift Aldershot break from a Woking corner saw Andre Jr having to deny substitute Kwame Thomas with his feet after a superb run and cut back from Jack Barham as the game started to really open up, and another Shots chance went absolutely begging when an initially blocked cross fell to Tolaj, who somehow dragged wide with half the goal to aim at.

Another Woking chance saw good work from substitute Charlie Wakefield down the right hand side ending in his low cross reaching Amond, but his stab towards goal was well saved again by the feet of van Stappershoef.

On the 90 minute mark, good build up from Aldershot saw Tolaj once again force a shot on goal safely gathered by Andre Jr, but that was to be that. All things considered, an excellent Woking performance might have been rewarded with all three points on another day, but Alexis Andre also had his say against Barham and Tolaj.














Woking: Alexis Andre Jr, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Timi Odusina, Luke Wilkinson, Manny Oyeleke, Jim Kellermann (Wakefield 57'), Rohan Ince, Padraig Amond, Dennon Lewis, Rhys Browne (Akinola 77')

Unused subs: Bradshaw, Jaaskelainen, Pavey






Aldershot Town: Jordi van Stappershoef, Haji Mnoga, Ollie Harfield, Cian Harries, Coby Rowe, Stuart O’Keefe (Thomas 56'), Tyler Frost, Lorent Tolaj, Josh Stokes, Ryan Glover,
(Willard 91') Jack Barham (Scott 86')



Unused subs: Haigh, Mullins

Bookings: O'Keefe 12', van Stappershoef 45', Mnoga 95'

Attendance: 5970 (902 Woking fans)



Man of the Match: Josh Casey led by example down the left hand side. Involved in much of Woking's good attacking play, this was a very good performance from Casey.