Match Report | Cards held to draw at the Vale after frantic few minutes

Wealdstone 1-1 Woking
Vanarama National League
4th September 2022

Jermaine Anderson’s superb strike cancelled out Max Kretzschmar’s penalty just a few minutes beforehand to leave both sides with a point at Grosvenor Vale.

In front of the BT Sport cameras, Darren Sarll made just one change from the Cards’ 3-1 success at Torquay on Bank Holiday Monday, with Scott Cuthbert back in the starting eleven, as Joe McNerney dropped to the bench. There was also a spot on the bench for new loan signing Jake Vokins.

Wealdstone lined up with a few familiar faces in their ranks, with popular centre-back Jack Cook, now captain of the Stones, facing off against his former side, alongside former Cards Sam Howes, Tarryn Allarakhia and Max Kretzschmar, the latter of which departed in the summer after four seasons of service.

The game began in hectic fashion, almost resembling a basketball game at times, with both sides getting into the final third on multiple occasions. Woking’s high press was making it difficult for Wealdstone to get their passing game going, forcing the defence into a couple of poor passes early on.

The first real chance came after seven minutes when an excellent through ball found Padraig Amond bearing down on goal. His low driven shot was well saved by the legs of Sam Howes.

Just a minute later, Wealdstone had the lead. Smart work between Allarakhia and Kretzschmar saw the former fouled in the box by Luke Wilkinson, with the referee instantly pointing to the spot. Kretzschmar just about squeezed the ball past the diving Craig Ross from twelve yards.

That lead lasted just four minutes. Jermaine Anderson picked the ball up and smashed home a thunderous strike from 25 yards out, a goal well worthy of the national audience the game was being broadcast to.

Young Wealdstone winger Dom Hutchinson found himself with acres of space down the left-hand side, but his cross was cleared back to himself. He drilled the ball into the side netting.

Rhys Browne became the first person to enter the book after bringing down James Daly on the counter-attack.

At half-time the feeling was that a game that was very much end-to-end in the first twenty minutes had settled down as both sides started taking more care in possession.



Half-time: Wealdstone 1-1 Woking y

Woking began the second half the stronger team, with a speculative effort from Jim Kellermann flying just over the bar.

Darren Sarll’s side were picking up the ball in good areas but seemed to lack the urgency or cutting edge to get their noses in front. Several corners and free kicks were wasted as the Cards tried to find a moment of luck or quality.

The best chance of the second half was to come unexpectedly. Tarryn Allarakhia superbly beat his man, before unleashing a ferocious effort from distance, which cannoned back off the crossbar.

The game was mostly played around a midfield battle between the Stones and Cards players, with little in the way of clear-cut chances in the second half. Tyreke Johnson fired over for Woking after finding space on the wing.

With around fifteen minutes left to play, James Daly received the ball about thirty yards out, and came very close to finding the top corner with an arrowed strike that just flew wide.

Five minutes of added time were signalled, but despite a flurry of corners for both teams, nothing ever looked like materialising. In truth, this was a game that saw little clear-cut action after the first fifteen minutes, with both sides huffing and puffing, but ultimately not showing enough quality in the final third.

Darren Sarll will, however, be pleased at his side’s work rate, for it was not a lack of trying that saw the Cards unable to grab a winner. With home games against Yeovil and Oldham to come, it is vital that Woking find that clinical edge that saw them put three past Torquay in a short period of time on Monday.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert (5 McNerney 70’), 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 James Daly, 9 Reece Grego-Cox (11 Johnson 64’), 10 Padraig Amond, 12 Dan Moss, 17 Jim Kellermann , 23 Jermaine Anderson, 24 Rohan Ince (18 Roles 64’)

Unused subs: Ethan Wady, Jake Vokins

Goals: Anderson 14’

Wealdstone Sam Howes; David Sesay, Jack Cook, Deji Elerewe, Sam Habergham; Dominic Hutchinson, Ashley Charles (Dyer 74), Nathan Ferguson, Tarryn Allarakhia; Max Kretzschmar (Napa 90); Rhys Browne (Olomola 84).

Unused subs: Jordy Mongoy, Jaydn Mundle-Smith

Goals: Max Kretzschmar 10’

Bookings: Rhys Browne 39’, Nathan Ferguson 85’

Referee: Matthew Russell

Attendance: 1638 (269 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Jermaine Anderson’s thunderbolt was matched by an all-action performance in the heart of midfield, which showed why Darren Sarll has such faith in him.