Match Report | Cards put on a show for record crowd to complete double over Shots

Woking 4-1 Aldershot Town
Vanarama National League
1st January 2023

Darren Sarll’s men looked to complete their first League double over local rivals Aldershot Town since 2016, in front of a record league crowd of 5297 at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. The Woking manager made one enforced chance, with young Peterborough United loanee Charlie O’Connell given his first league start in place of Dan Moss, who was serving a one game suspension following his red card on Boxing Day.

Ross McNeilly made one change to his Aldershot side, with Corey Jordan replaced by Giles Phillips at centre back, whilst former Woking striker Inih Effiong led the line.

Following a minute’s applause for Cards supporter Angela Potter, the match was underway, and both sides had barely had time to organise themselves when Woking struck first blood.

Tyler Cordner headed the ball straight to the advancing Padraig Amond, and he found Rhys Browne, who continued his fine start to life in red and white with a superb lob over the helpless Luca Ashby-Hammond in front of the Kingfield Road End.

Sarll’s side continued to frustrate their visitors, with O’Connell putting several dead ball deliveries into good areas, whilst the Shots couldn’t find their clinical edge thanks to the hard work of the Woking back four. Justin Amaluzor charged down a Craig Ross clearance before being thwarted by some good defending, before Michael Klass saw a shot blocked.

However, with just five minutes until half time, former Card Inih Effiong had the moment he’d been waiting for. He drove into the box from the left wing, before shooting low into the near post and past the despairing dive of Craig Ross to level the scores.

With the clock past the six minutes of stoppage time due to a flare from the Aldershot end disrupting play, a clumsy challenge on Kellermann by Effiong saw Woking awarded their second penalty in as many games. Much like the Boxing Day fixture between these sides, former Shot Browne kept his cool to give the Cards a 2-1 lead going into half time.

Despite going ahead early on, the first half was an even affair, and Darren Sarll would have been delighted after Woking retook the lead late on in the first half, as those moments can often swing games.

Half-time: Woking 2-1 Aldershot Town

It took just seven minutes for the Cards to pick up where they left off after the break. Brilliant work from James Daly down the left-hand side saw the ball find Kellermann, who tapped home at the near post to give Woking a two goal cushion.

Just seconds later, it was four. Ashby-Hammond tried to turn away from Amond after the Shots had restarted, but the wily Irishman stole the ball from him and raced away before tapping into an empty net.

Aldershot tried to respond straight away, with efforts from Frank Vincent and substitute Harry Panayiotou coming to nothing, as the Cards played the ball around nicely, full of confidence and with a three-goal cushion.

In particular, James Daly was having plenty of joy down the right hand side, taking on his full back with ease and driving Woking down the flanks, whilst the likes of Amond and Browne engaged in intricate build up play.

However, Woking were reduced to ten men with just 15 minutes left to play, another former Shot in Jermaine Anderson appearing to catch his man.

Despite this though, Aldershot didn’t threaten the Cards’ goal until late on in stoppage time, when a free kick from Ollie Harfield was met by the head of Giles Phillips, but his header struck the bar, and Woking cleared.

The referee blew his whistle and Woking rejoiced in a successful outing in front of the biggest ever league home crowd. Darren Sarll’s side have lost just twice in the league since September, and completing the double over their local rivals is a big statement of intent as the Cards look to push on in 2023.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 5 Joe McNerney, 8 James Daly, (29 Vokins 87’), 10 Padraig Amond, 14 Rhys Browne (18 Roles 76’), 15 Charlie O’Connell, 17 Jim Kellermann (2 Lofthouse 71’) , 23 Jermaine Anderson, 24 Rohan Ince

Unused subs: Ethan Wady, Tyreke Johnson

Goals: Browne 2’, 45+5’, Kellermann 52’, Amond 54’

Bookings: Scott Cuthbert 26’, Craig Ross 82’, Jack Roles 95’

Sent off: Jermaine Anderson 74’

Aldershot Town: Luca Ashby-Hammond, Giles Phillips, Joe Partington, Michael Klass (Marcel Elva-Fountaine 80’), Archie Davies, Frank Vincent (Ody Alfa 77’), Ollie Harfield, Ryan Glover, Tyler Cordner, Inih Effiong, Justin Amaluzor (Harry Panayiotou 60’).

Unused subs: Ben Shroll, Corey Jordan

Goals: Inih Effiong 40’

Bookings: Archie Davies 39’, Joe Partington 86’

Referee: Jason Richardson

Attendance: 5297

Man of the Match: James Daly was superb, creating chances down the right hand side on a regular basis, whilst playing a key role in the pressing that has become a part of Darren Sarll’s Woking side so far this season.