Match Report | Ten man Cards battle their way to outstanding three points

Woking 2-1 Bromley
Vanarama National League
21st February 2023

Darren Sarll made five changes to the side defeated by Altrincham on Saturday, which included a first start for Will Jaaskelainen, as he replaced Craig Ross, whilst Joe McNerney, Solomon Nwabuokei, Jake Hessenthaler and Marcus Dackers were replaced by Luke Wilkinson, Jim Kellermann, Kyran Lofthouse and James Daly.

Sarll signed a contract extension with the Cards just before the game, whilst Josh Casey was celebrating making his 200th Woking appearance.

The Cards started well, and with just four minutes gone, an excellent Lofthouse cross found Scott Cuthbert, yet to score this season, at the back post. His header crept just wide of the post.

Bromley had only lost one in eleven games, and they seized the initiative after Jaaskelainen’s miskick, with the ball being bundled home by Mitchel Bergkamp after good work from Charley Kendall.

Woking were adamant they should’ve had a penalty when Padraig Amond was flipped onto his side by a Bromley challenge, but from the following corner, Scott Cuthbert met Casey’s cross with a bullet header to finally notch his first goal of the season.

This gave the Cards a huge lift as five minutes of first half stoppage time were announced, and after the Bromley defence were caught sleeping, great work from Amond and Browne to keep the ball in play resulted in the former crossing for Jim Kellermann, who headed home past the despairing dive of Reece Charles-Cook, to give Woking an unexpected 2-1 lead going into half time.

Half-time: Woking 2-1 Bromley

The first chance of the second half came ten minutes into it, when Ince found Browne, but the striker could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Browne came agonisingly close a few minutes later, after great work from Lofthouse forced Charles-Cook to parry the ball to the forward, but his effort clipped the crossbar.

However, after a late challenge from Browne on the keeper, he was given his marching orders with just under half an hour to play.

Some Daly brilliance almost resulted in a superb solo goal, with the winger turning three players before firing a low shot just wide of the post.

There was nearly a goal of the season contender from Lofthouse with 75 minutes gone, as he came agonisingly close to finding the top corner from 30 yards out as the Cards continued to push.

Amazingly, Bromley didn’t have a single clear cut chance in the time they had a man advantage, which is testament to the hard work and desire of this Woking side, and there was jubilation as the full time whistle went. Other results meant that the Cards had gained ground on their rivals for third place, but they’ll have to make sure they can back up this result on Saturday when they host Wealdstone.

Woking: 22 Will Jaaskelainen, 2 Kyran Lofthouse (16 Nwabuokei 80’), 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 James Daly, 10 Padraig Amond (5 McNerney 93’), 12 Dan Moss, 14 Rhys Browne, 17 Jim Kellermann (19 Hessenthaler 80’), 24 Rohan Ince

Unused subs: Craig Ross, Marcus Dackers

Goals: Scott Cuthbert 44’, Jim Kellermann 45+2’

Bookings: Kellermann 13’, Cuthbert 80’, Moss 84’

Sent off: Browne 61’

Bromley: Reice Charles-Cook, Callum Reynolds, Billy Bingham, Omar Sowumni, Louis Dennis, Charley Kendall, Mitchel Bergkamp (Marriott 45’), Corey Whitely, Jude Arthurs (Vennings 63’) , Besart Topalloj, Kellen Fisher (Forster 62’)

Unused subs: Green, Krauhaus

Goals: Bergkamp 26’

Bookings: Reynolds 45’, Arthurs 48’

Referee: James Durkin

Attendance: 1798

Man of the Match: Josh Casey