Match Report | Cards suffer home woes again

Woking 0-1 Bromley
Vanarama National League
28th October 2023
Woking returned to the Laithwaite to take on a Bromley side sitting third in the table before kick-off, with the Cards desperate for a first home league win since August. After success at the Silverlake against Eastleigh in midweek, Darren Sarll kept the starting 11 unchanged, with the only change to the squad being Reece Grego-Cox back on the bench after illness; Charlie O’Connell made way for the striker.

Bromley kicked off towards the KRE and dominated the ball for the majority of the opening ten minutes, despite a few corners for the Cards. Dennon Lewis got the winner at Eastleigh in midweek, and the winger was showing real confidence as he nabbed the ball off Josh Passley, before his cross was well blocked, as the Cards enjoyed a good spell of pressure.

Passley’s deep cross looked to be met by Bes Topalloj at the back post on 23 minutes, but a fantastic diving header from Dan Moss put the ball behind for a corner. A couple of minutes later, Woking’s own corner caused problems, and Morgan Williams’ header narrowly went wide of the far post.

Good work from Rhys Browne saw him fire a shot straight at Grant Smith on 29 minutes as Woking enjoyed most of the ball, but Bromley nearly created something out of nothing on the stroke of half time. A punt up field was missed by Will Jaaskelainen, but by the time Olufela Olomola had realised, the ball had been cleared out of play.
A half where chances were few and far between, as Bromley’s defence stood firm against pressure put on them by the Cards.

Half-time: Woking 0-0 Bromley
A superb effort from Lewis Walker nearly broke the deadlock; the striker receiving from a Josh Casey throw in, taking a touch before firing a shot just wide of the far corner from the best part of 30 yards, before an excellent save from Smith denied Browne a goal after great work in the build up from Dennon Lewis.

Danger man Michael Cheek received the ball on the left hand side as the away side broke, but his near post shot was excellently tipped past the post by Jaaskelainen. However, Bromley scored from the resulting corner, as Chin Okoli’s initial header was met at the back post by Deji Elerewe on 58 minutes.

Jaaskelainen was called into action again on 66 minutes, after good play saw Topalloj fire one towards goal, but the Finn saved well to his right hand side. Sarll reacted by sending on Alfie Pavey and Reece Grego-Cox on 70 minutes in place of Lewis Walker and Rhys Browne, and immediately the Cards came close twice. Bromley had to defend well to prevent Scott Cuthbert from tapping home following a free kick, before Grego-Cox’s header was cleared at the back post.

Another superb save from Smith denied Grego-Cox from close range on 87 minutes, before Zak Bradshaw’s shot was blocked away as Woking pushed desperately for an equaliser. But that was to be the last chance for the Cards, as Bromley held on for three valuable points. Woking will hope they can get back to winning ways at Ramsgate in the cup next Saturday.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Scott Cuthbert, Timi Odusina, Zak Bradshaw, Rohan Ince, Morgan Williams (Amond 81’), Dennon Lewis, Rhys Browne (Grego-Cox 70’), Lewis Walker (Pavey 70’)

Unused subs: Taylor, Wakefield

Bookings: Walker 60’, Casey 90+7’

Bromley: Grant Smith, Deji Elerewe, Lewis Leigh (Woods 55’), Josh Passley, Michael Cheek, Chin Okoli, Byron Webster, Corey Whitely, Jude Arthurs, Bes Topalloj, Olufela Olomola (Dennis 70’)

Unused subs: Sharman-Lowe, Reynolds, Miller

Goals: Elerewe 58’

Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo

Attendance: 2754

Man of the Match: Dennon Lewis