Match Report | Cards held by Stones

Woking 1-1 Wealdstone
Vanarama National League
25th February 2023

Darren Sarll made one enforced change to the side that defeated Bromley on Tuesday night, with Rhys Browne serving the first of his three game suspension for his red card, as Marcus Dackers made his first home start for the Cards. Woking welcomed a Wealdstone side with a number of familiar faces; no fewer than four former Cardinals in the Stones’ starting 11.

Both sides started well, with Brooklyn Ilunga for the away side and Dackers for the Cards both squandering free headers, and both keepers being called into action to deal with deep crosses inside the first ten minutes.

Will Jaaskelainen was forced into a superb save with almost 20 minutes gone, as he tipped Ashley Charles’ low goal bound strike onto the post. The Finn had to act brilliantly just a minute later, when Olufela Olomola looked to round him, but the 24-year-old bravely claimed the ball.

Woking took the lead against the run of play on 28 minutes. Luke Wilkinson’s cross was inch-perfect for Dackers at the back post, who headed the ball into the far corner to make it two goals in two starts for the Salford City loanee.

Rohan Ince made an exceptional block just two minutes later to deny Ilunga a tap in after a great cross from Sam Habergham, as the Stones looked to hit back almost instantly.

The Cards had Will Jaaskelainen to thank for taking the lead at half time, with three superb saves keeping Wealdstone at bay, allowing Dackers to open the scoring minutes later.

Half-time: Woking 1-0 Wealdstone

The Cards began the second half as the stronger of the two sides, with substitute Solomon Nwabuokei dancing his way into the box, before blazing over, as Woking looked to double their lead.

Ricky Korboa made a return to the pitch for the first time this year when he came on after 67 minutes, and he drove forwards before teeing up Lofthouse, whose low shot was comfortably wide of the Wealdstone goal.

A brilliant Woking move involving Korboa, Kellermann and Lofthouse saw the latter shoot from distance, forcing a good save from Howes in the Wealdstone net.

With 13 minutes left, Scott Cuthbert fouled Kretzschmar inside the box, and the former Woking midfielder put the ball into the top right corner to equalise for the Stones.

That was how it would finish, as the two sides took a share of the spoils for the second time this season. A stubborn Wealdstone side got their reward for staying in the game, and deserved their point.

Woking: 22 Will Jaaskelainen, 2 Kyran Lofthouse, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 6 Luke Wilkinson (5 McNerney 48’), 8 James Daly (16 Nwabuokei 34’), 10 Padraig Amond, 12 Dan Moss, 17 Jim Kellermann, 20 Marcus Dackers (7 Korboa 67’), 24 Rohan Ince

Unused subs: Craig Ross, Lewis Simper

Goals: Marcus Dackers 28’

Bookings: Cuthbert 48’

Wealdstone: Sam Howes, Jack Cook (Barrett 65’), Miguel Freckleton, Tarryn Allarakhia (Obiero 65’), Olufela Olomola (Ferguson 76’), Alex Dyer, Brooklyn Ilunga, Max Kretzschmar, Charlie Barker, Sam Habergham

Unused subs: Ferguson, McGregor, Hutchinson

Goals: Kretzschmar 78’

Referee: Matthew Russell

Attendance: 2889

Man of the Match: Will Jaaskelainen