Match Report | Cards defeated at the death again

Woking 1-2 FC Halifax Town
Vanarama National League
3rd October 2023

Woking hosted FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night for their first fixture of October. On the back of Saturday’s win at Fylde, Darren Sarll made three changes, with Josh Casey suffering from illness being replaced by Sam Habergham, whilst Scott Cuthbert and Luke Wilkinson dropped to the bench in place of Greg Taylor and Timi Odusina. There was also a welcome return to the bench for Rohan Ince after an injury that had seen him miss the last 11 games.

Halifax kicked off towards the KRE, and after a fairly even opening eight minutes, the first real opening of note was created by Padraig Amond, who flicked Zak Bradshaw’s header over a defender, before not quite getting enough on his effort at goal, as it trickled through to Sam Johnson. A Habergham long throw was then fired just over by Amond on 17 minutes as Woking looked to seize the initiative.

The dangerous Angelo Cappello weaved his way into the box, and his shot on 28 minutes took a deflection and trickled past the post, before Woking broke through Dennon Lewis from the resulting corner. His shot was well parried by Johnson, and Bradshaw couldn’t convert the follow up. Just a minute later, Jim Kellermann’s initial shot was blocked, before his follow up cannoned off the bar and over as the Cards looked dangerous.

In first half stoppage time, Woking had a deserved lead. Great work from Kellermann saw him find Tunji Akinola on the edge of the box, and his powerful left footed shot wasn’t read by Johnson, who only got an arm to it and the ball landed in his net. Relief for the Cards, who had knocked on the Halifax door a few times earlier in the half.

Half-time: Woking 1-0 FC Halifax Town

Woking started the second half with urgency, as a Kellermann shot from a tight angle was saved by Johnson, before a flurry of corners and a free kick saw the Halifax defence called into action a couple of times. Excellent work between Amond and Alfie Pavey saw Lewis fire just over on the half volley, and with 63 minutes gone, Bradshaw fired over via a deflection, with the Cards pushing for a second goal.

Great work from Pavey on 71 minutes saw him pick the ball up, drive towards goal and force a superb low save from Johnson from his low drive, before he fired over from the following corner. This was then followed by the much awaited return to action for Rohan Ince and Reece Grego-Cox, as they replaced Kellermann and Pavey.

Halifax were awarded a penalty on 76 minutes, when Millenic Alli was brought down inside the box, and Angelo Cappello’s spot kick squirmed under Jaaskelainen to bring the Shaymen level.

Woking were livid on 90 minutes when Grego-Cox was bundled over in the box whilst awaiting a cross, but somehow referee Wayne Cartmel didn’t point to the spot.

A superb save from Sam Johnson kept out Lewis’s header at the back post following superb work from Amond down the right, before Halifax completed the ultimate smash and grab when Tylor Golden’s left footed strike found the top corner.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Sam Habergham, Timi Odusina, Greg Taylor (Wilkinson 89’), Padraig Amond, Dennon Lewis, Tunji Akinola, Alfie Pavey (Grego-Cox 72’), Jim Kellermann (Ince 72’), Zak Bradshaw.

Unused subs: Andre, Cuthbert

Goals: Akinola 45+2’

Bookings: Odusina 92’

Halifax: Sam Johnson, Tylor Golden, Adam Senior (Wright 74’), Jamie Stott, Ryan Galvin, Jordan Hunter, Florent Hoti, Millenic Alli, Angelo Cappello (Evans 87’), Andrew Oluwabori (Cosgrave 64’)

Unused subs: Wilson, Thompson-Sommers

Goals: Cappello 78’, Golden 97’

Bookings:

Referee: Wayne Cartmel

Attendance: 2350

Man of the Match: Jim Kellermann