Match Report | Cards deal late blow to Pools in front of the cameras

Woking 1-1 Hartlepool United
‘Vanarama National League’
‘10th February 2024’

Woking hosted Hartlepool United in front of the TNT Sports cameras with both sides looking to climb up the table. There was just one change made by either manager from victories last Tuesday in the Cards’ case and last Saturday in Kevin Phillips’ case, with Rohan Ince in for Tunji Akinola, who missed out on the squad entirely after accumulating too many yellow cards.

The away side kicked off the game towards the KRE, but a quick start for the Cards saw a half chance for Ricky Korboa at the back post just go wide after fantastic link up between Jayden Luker and Curtis Edwards, with not even two minutes played.

However, just seven minutes in, a great Hartlepool move saw Callum Cooke pick out David Ferguson, whose low cross was well flicked into the bottom corner by Joe Grey. After a spell of no chances, a superb Hartlepool counter attack on 25 minutes saw Grey with a golden chance to make it two, but a superb low save from Alexis Andre Jr denied him.

With the game starting to liven up, great work down the left hand side from Ince to retrieve the ball and feed Walker saw the striker just fire wide on his left foot. Then came a puzzling moment in the 33rd minute of the game, when Tom Crawford’s header appeared to have been given as a goal by the referee. With Pools celebrating, he instead pointed for a free kick to Woking for a foul on Andre Jr.

After Luker weaved his way through a number of defenders down the left hand side, the ball fell to Dennon Lewis, whose shot was straight at Joel Dixon as the Cards looked to up the tempo. Then, a corner from Edwards on the stroke of half time was nearly met by Scott Cuthbert and would surely have resulted in a goal were it not for some brilliant Pools defending.

Half time saw Woking deservedly a goal down, but still in the game and showing signs of encouragement.

Half-time: Woking 0-1 Hartlepool United

After another spell of nothing happening in the final third for either side, Woking created an opportunity after 61 minutes, when Edwards’ header from Luker’s cross just went wide of the far post.

Despite having the majority of possession in the second half, Woking’s attacking output was extremely limited, once again being unable to break down a low Hartlepool block as all Dixon in goal had to do was gather the ball out of his goal, until one minute into injury time.

A corner for the Cards wasn’t cleared, and Edwards’ ball in was scrambled home eventually at the back post by Walker, sparking scenes in the KRE as he thundered home via the bar.

A point was a result many inside the Laithwaite couldn't see coming with the game nearing an end, but a welcome one for the Cards in the circumstances. They travel to the Shay to play FC Halifax town next Saturday.



Woking: Alexis Andre Jr, Josh Casey, Scott Cuthbert, Lewis Walker, Dennon Lewis (Oyeleke 58’), Rohan Ince (Kendall 79’), Curtis Edwards, Ricky Korboa (Osew 74’), Dion Kelly-Evans, Jayden Luker, Max Dyche

Unused subs: Moss, Anderson

Goals: Walker 90+1’

Bookings: Walker 7’

Hartlepool United Joel Dixon, Luke Hendrie, Luke Waterfall, Tom Parkes, David Ferguson, Nicky Featherstone, Tom Crawford, Courtney Senior (Dickenson 68’), Joe Grey, Mani Dieseruvwe

Unused subs: Jameson, Onarise, Burton, Wallace

Bookings: Dickenson 74’

Goals: Grey 7’

Attendance: 2538

Man of the Match: Scott Cuthbert