Cards hold on to make it three wins in three

Woking 2 Gateshead 1
Blue Square Bet Premier
Saturday 22nd September 2012


Two first-half goals from Jack Parkinson and Gavin McCallum (pictured) ensured all three points for Woking as a spirited Gateshead visited the Kingfield Stadium in this Blue Square Premier Division clash.

Woking started the game brightly and created the game's first chance after just two minutes as Bradley Bubb shot wide of the upright from the edge of the area. Jack Parkinson gave the home side the lead just five minutes in as the combative midfielder's fierce shot from 25 yards took a deflection off Gateshead skipper Jamie Chandler and nestled in the corner.

The dangerous Yemi Odubade had the visitors' first chance of the half as the frontman was denied by an alert Aaron Howe in the Woking goal as the goalkeeper smothered the ball at his feet.

Bradley Bubb found Gavin McCallum in space on the quarter-hour mark as the winger fired his effort over the bar from long range.

Gavin McCallum scored his third goal in as many games on 23 minutes and doubled the home advantage with a left-footed finish after some fine play down the right involving Bradley Bubb and the impressive Kevin Betsy.

Despite plenty of possession for the visitors, the Cards' back four were rarely troubled in the opening half hour, although a stinging 30 yard free-kick from former Woking left-back Chris Bush sailed just past the post on 27 minutes.

All-action midfielder Lee Sawyer received the first caution of the game after a late challenge on Nathan Fisher at the byline.

Carl Magney headed onto the crossbar just before half-time as Gateshead looked for an avenue back into the game after an in-swinging corner kick from the hard working Yemi Odubade.

Half Time: Woking 2 Gateshead 0

The visitors came out of the blocks quickly in the second half as expected trailing by two goals at the break. Roaming full back Chris Bush fired a swerving effort towards goal and Aaron Howe did well to push the effort away to safety.

Bradley Bubb just failed to connect with a Gavin McCallum cut-back ten minutes into the second half as the striker arrived just ahead of the ball. Bubb was subsequently replaced four minutes later by Brett Williams.

Chris Bush received a booking from referee Justin Amey as the full back brought down the pacey Kevin Betsy on the right-hand side. Gavin McCallum took the resulting free-kick and his glorious in-swinging delivery was headed onto the far post by the inrushing Brett Johnson.

Just past the hour mark Ryan Donaldson was brought down at the edge of the Woking 18-yard area. Yemi Odubade's deflected free-kick was superbly pushed away by Aaron Howe despite being wrong-footed by the deflection.

The visitors introduced Ryan McGorrigan with a little over twenty minutes left on the clock as the striker replaced midfielder Michael Cummins. The substitute was involved immediately as he fed Yemi Odubade, who back heeled the ball into the path of Phil Turnbull. The midfielder slotted the ball into the net to bring his side back into the game.

Gateshead continued to probe the home defence as they looked for an equaliser with the home side starting to use up as much time as possible at every opportunity. However, the pace of both Kevin Betsy and Gavin McCallum was always a threat on the counter-attack.

Former AFC Wimbledon man Chris Bush received a second yellow card with just eight minutes remaining as the defender blocked the run of Kevin Betsy as he attempted to collect a one-two from the excellent Lee Sawyer.

A couple of fine Ryan Donaldson deliveries tested the home defence as the ten men searched for the elusive equaliser but Joe McNerney was equal to everything thrown at him at the heart of the Woking back four.

Another Ryan Donaldson shot landed on the roof of the net as two injury-time substitutions from the home side ran the clock down and ensured all three points and a third win on the trot for Woking.


Woking: Aaron Howe; Adam Newton, Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson, Adam Doyle; Mark Ricketts, Jack Parkinson; Lee Sawyer (Dean Sinclair 90), Kevin Betsy, Gavin McCallum (Mike Cestor 90); Bradley Bubb (Brett Williams 54)

Unused subs: Loick Pires, Sam Beasant

Cautions: Lee Sawyer 31

Gateshead: Adam Bartlett; Glenn Wilson, James Curtis, Carl Magney, Chris Bush; Jamie Chandler, Phil Turnbull, Michael Cummins (Ryan McGorrigan 66); Ryan Donaldson, Yemi Odubade (Luke Carr 76), Nathan Fisher

Unused subs: Jordan Nixon, Patrick Boyle, Michael Roberts.

Cautions: Chrish Bush 57 & 82

Sent Off: Chris Bush 82

Attendance: 1,609.

MOTM: Gavin McCallum.