Seymours

Match Report | Encouraging first home game as win secured over the Daggers

John Pearce
1:36pm, Mon 15th Aug 2022
Woking 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
Vanarama National League
13th August 2022

On a blisteringly hot afternoon at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, a three-minute spell in the first half encapsulated the difference between two teams battling it out and displaying more energy than one would expect in the extreme conditions. In that spell, the Cards scored two close range goals from corners, giving them a thoroughly satisfying win in their opening home fixture over a team that many would view as a reasonably bet to finish in the top half of the table. And a healthy-sized (for mid-August) crowd of more than 2,500 was there to witness it.

Woking made two changes to the starting line-up compared to that for the disappointing opener at York, with Kyran Lofthouse and Reece Grego-Cox coming in for Tyreke Johnson and Jermaine Anderson; Dagenham and Redbridge made three following a draw in their opening game, with former Cards loanee David Longe-King, Mo Sagaf and Junior Morais – the three subs used in that previous game – brought in. The seven new Cards players this season against three for the Daggers reflected squads at different stages of their life-cycles.

On a dry but immaculate-looking pitch, the visitors kicked off towards the KRE. Early exchanges were fairly even, with no convincing chances. On nine minutes, a Dagenham free kick on their left, about 30 yards from goal, was headed out for a corner; Miles Weston’s attempt to curl one in was cleared, and a quick Woking corner ensued with the ball finishing in Elliot Justham’s arms.

Six minutes later, Paul McCallum – not as dangerous on the day as he usually is – tumbled theatrically in Woking’s box as he closed in on goal; he was not fouled.

In a strong attacking spell for the Cards, the ball reached Padraig Amond’s feet as he ran into the Daggers’ area but there was no one there to meet his cross. Josh Casey was brought down in front of the CLT on 21 minutes, and stayed down, which triggered the first much-needed drinks break of the afternoon.

In a moment that one should not view as amusing, Morais took the ball to the Cards’ byline to the left of the goal, and clipped it across (to no effect), before disappearing over the hoardings; no harm done to player or panelling.

On 28 mins., Amond found the ball at his feet in the Daggers’ six yard box but his shot was blocked well and went behind by Moaners’ Corner. From the resulting corner, Grego-Cox blasted home from close range. 1-0

A mere three minutes later – following a move where Moss, in the box, pushed the ball to Grogo-Cox who cross the ball for the keeper to push behind – Ince fired a towering header into the back of the net from another corner kick. 2-0.
Rohan Ince rises above the assembled throng to head home; pic: David Holmes
Rohan Ince rises above the assembled throng to head home; pic: David Holmes


The visitors were showing signs of frustration at this point. Dean Rance’s name went into the ref’ slittle book after he floored Lofthouse. Weston vented his feelings to teammates who went missing when he moved into the Cards’ box and crossed to no one.

Another drinks break in the 38th minute again coincided with Casey being on the floor.

Five minutes later, determined attacking work by the Cards resulted in a corner by Moaners’, which Casey took and retook, the ball being caught by Justham. A Sagaf cross from the right was similarly caught by Craig Ross. In the four minutes of time added on, Jim Kellerman’s free kick from 10 yards outside of the Dagenham area drifted over the bar and out.

Woking 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 0

Clearly stung by the advantage gained by the Cards in the first half, the Daggers made two substitutions at half-time – Nikola Tavares for Rance and Mauro Vilhete for Johnson. Only 4 minutes into his appearance, Tavares received a yellow card for his foul which left Kellerman horizontal in the centre circle.

From the second of two successive corners for the Cards, on the right and left of the Daggers goal, Wilkinson headed dramatically against the top right corner of the framework, with Amond blasting the rebound over from close quarters. So close!

The lively Weston fired across the goal from the right and out for a throw-in. In the 65th minute, the Daggers made another substitution, with Joshua Walker on for Sagaf; time for another well-earned drinks break.

Somewhat late in the day, the visitors upped their game and started to be a serious threat. A close range shot was blocked superbly by Kellerman on the goal line. Another Weston corner, from the right, was headed out.

Jermaine Anderson was bought on for Kellerman in the 72nd minute and – six minutes later and shortly after receiving a yellow card – Lofthouse was replaced with former Sutton United winger Ricky Korboa, making his Woking debut.

An 81st minute D&R corner was headed clear by Cuthbert. A player received attention for an injury, so the players took the opportunity to quench their thirst.

In a lovely move, Amond received the ball to the right of the Daggers goal. Advancing, he attempted to loft it over the keeper but it went just wide. A frustrating afternoon for him, but his first goal in a Cards shirt can’t be far off.

A Tavares cross was blasted across the goal by former Cards loanee Matt Robinson. The final Woking substitution was made in the 88th minute – Joe McNerney on for Amond.

8 minutes of time was added on after the statutory 90; even allowing for some drinks and injury breaks, this seemed excessively high. So while Woking were unable to relax, little of note happened in that time; a Robinson shot three minutes in was cleared.

It would be wrong to say that Woking dominated this game throughout. It was that very short spell of intense pressure in the first half which tipped the balance. Up until then, it was fairly ‘even stevens’ - scrappy at times with few chances to either side – and, in the latter stages of the game, Dagenham belatedly showed menace.

However, overall this was a spirited and convincing performance by the Cards which hopefully went a long way to dispelling doubts after the opener at York. No player underperformed on the day, and there were some exceptional performances. Ince was excellent in midfield; Moss, at left back, Daly on the wing, Lofthouse and Cuthbert for some imperious heading (a change from many Woking central defenders of recent years) are worth of mention.

The Cards don’t have long to wait to demonstrate any extra confidence gained from that result, with their first ever league encounter with Scunthorpe United at the Laithwaite on Tuesday night.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 2 Kyran Lofthouse (7 Ricky Korboa 78’, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 James Daly, 9 Reece Grego-Cox 55, 10 Padraig Amond (5 Jo McNerney 86’), 12 Dan Moss, 17 Jim Kellerman (23 Jermaine Anderson 72’), 24 Rohan Ince

Unused subs: 1 Ethan Wady, 11 Tyreke Johnson

Goals: Grego-Cox 28’, Ince 31'

Bookings: Lofthouse 77’

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Elliot Justham, 2 Josh Hare, 3 Elliott Johnson (20 Mauro Vilhete 46’) , 4 Dean Rance (15 Nikola Tavares 46’), 5 Manny Onariase, 8 Mo Sagaf (7 Josh Walker 65’), 9 Paul McCallum, 11 Miles Weston, 12 Matt Robinson, 21 David Longe-King, 24 Junior Morias

Unused subs: 13 Joshua Strizovic, 19 Sam Ling

Goals: None

Bookings: Rance 33’, Tavares 49’

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 2,502 (197 away fans)

Sponsor’s Man of the Match: Rohan Ince

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