Chesterfield 0 Woking 0
Vanarama National League
15th May 2022
Woking finished off a topsy-turvy season at a packed Technique Stadium looking to spoil Chesterfield’s play-off party.
Over 9,000 took their seats in North Derbyshire as the home side looked to put their poor form to one side and extend their season.
Darren Sarll continued his rotation of ‘giving everyone a go’ before he makes the difficult decisions about their futures. Louie Annesley made the starting 11 for the first time under Sarll, as he replaced Tom Champion, whilst Jack Roles made way for Jermaine Anderson in the midfield.
Woking kicked off towards the raucous North Stand, and looked to make a quick start. A fantastic tackle from Max Kretzschmar down Woking’s left hand side gave him the chance to run at the Chesterfield defence, and he picked out Nicke Kabamba. His acrobatic effort was goal-bound, but was blocked behind for a corner.
Both sides were struggling to retain possession. A very scrappy fifteen minutes saw the understandably nervous home side trying to find Tom Denton up front, but Annesley, Moussa Diarra and, in particular, David Longe-King, were doing a good job at isolating the target man.
Jim Kellerman found himself through on goal momentarily, but his shot was blocked by Longe-King. Shortly after, Danny Rowe lined up one of his trademark free-kicks following a foul about 30 yards out, but his effort went horribly wide.
After a largely uneventful opening 35 minutes, the best chance of the game went to the home side. Jeff King’s pinpoint cross was met by the head of Saidou Khan, but his header clipped the top of the crossbar and went over the bar.
Manager’s mid-match pep talk
David Holmes
Four minutes later, Woking threatened. Kretzschmar played in Effiong, but he was denied by a fantastic save from Scott Loach.
Both sides walked off the pitch at half time having momentarily threatened the others’ goal, but not being able to retain possession for long periods.
Half-time: Chesterfield 0 Woking 0
The first fifteen minutes of the second half were similar to the start of the first half in that nothing of note really happened.
Following a tussle with Tyrone Williams, Effiong found himself through on goal once again, and placed the ball into the net. However, he was unaware that the referee had given a free kick in favour of Williams for the preceding incident
Ten minutes later, the Cards came close to a breakthrough. Tyreke Johnson delivered an inch-perfect cross into the box, and Effiong came so close to getting the killer touch.
The introduction of Nathan Tyson for the home side in place of Denton gave Chesterfield something different up front, and almost immediately paid dividends. A long ball found Tyson, and just as he was about to turn and face Craig Ross 1 on 1, he slipped and the opportunity went to waste.
After barely being tested all game, the ever dependable Ross produced an excellent double save, as Rowe’s low drive was parried away, before Liam Mandeville was denied from close range.
The two Woking substitutes, Tarryn Allarakhia and Solomon Nwabuokei combined with ten minutes to go, as good work by the former down the wing teed up Nwabuokei, but his shot was blocked behind for a corner.
Full time came after no further chances of note, with relief felt around the stadium from the home side and their fans, who secured a playoff eliminator at the Shay against FC Halifax Town. Meanwhile, from a Woking point of view, this was a pleasing way to finish off a season of change, as Darren Sarll and his players thanked the travelling fans.
Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey ©, 6 Moussa Diarra, 9 Inih Effiong (George Oakley 72’), 10 Max Kretzschmar (Solomon Nwabuokei 80’) 11 Tyreke Johnson ( Tarryn Allarakhia 72’ ), 16 Louie Annesley, 18 Nicke Kabamba, 22 David Longe-King, 23 Jermaine Anderson, 24 Rohan Ince
Unused subs: Mark Smith, Tom Champion
Chesterfield Scott Loach, Jeff King, Tyrone Williams, Jamie Grimes ©, Alex Whittle, Curtis Weston (Jak McCourt 65’), Jim Kellermann, Saidou Khan, Liam Mandeville, Tom Denton (Nathan Tyson 68’), Danny Rowe
Unused subs: Laurence Maguire, Calvin Miller, Tom Whelan
Bookings: Jak McCourt 69’, Jim Kellerman 84’
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance:9,013 (187 Woking fans)
Man of the Match: David Longe-King finished off a good loan spell with a solid performance and a deserved clean sheet.
