Match Report | Cards win battle against Bees

Woking 1-0 Barnet
Vanarama National League
16th March 2024

Michael Doyle made four changes to the side defeated late on at Rochdale on Tuesday night. Josh Casey, Rohan Ince, Dennon Lewis and the suspended Dion Kelly-Evans made way for Luke Wilkinson, Kevin Berkoe, Jayden Luker and Alfie Pavey, with only Ince remaining in the matchday squad.

After a cagey opening ten minutes, a fantastic pass from Timi Odusina found Jermaine Anderson down the right hand side, and his low cross just evaded Pavey in the middle. More good play, this time from Kendall, after 20 minutes saw him drive down the right and feed Anderson, who was denied by Anthony Hartigan as he looked to pull the trigger.

After Curtis Edwards’ corner was only half cleared with 35 minutes gone, the ball fell to Luker on the volley, but flew just wide of the far corner. The first attempt on goal for the Bees saw Jerome Okimo nearly find the top corner from distance, only to be denied brilliantly by Will Jaaskelainnen, who tipped the ball behind for a corner.

Brilliant work from Edwards and Odusina saw the latter fire a cross into the back post, where the awaiting Pavey was just unable to convert. Although the sides went into half time level, the Cards had been on top, playing some nice football and getting in behind the Bees’ high line.

Half-time: Woking 0-0 Barnet

Eight minutes into the second half, great work from Berkoe down the left hand side saw him drill a cross onto the head of Pavey, but his cushioned header just crept wide of the far corner. After a spell of pressure from the Bees, a freakish goal gave the Cards the lead in the 61st minute. Great work from Kendall saw his cross loop towards goal, coming back off the post. Luker’s follow up was then blocked but only into the path of Berkoe, who smashed home to break the deadlock.

A superb run and cross from Berkoe met Pavey with 80 minutes gone, but his header just went over the bar. Barnet had the ball in the net three minutes later, but after Kabamba had converted Dale Gorman’s cross, the linesman’s flag went up straight away.

Minus that little scare, the Cards saw it out comfortably to make it three home wins on the bounce. A determined performance from Doyle’s men, and fully deserving of all three points.

Next up is a trip to Roots Hall to take on Southend, and Woking will be full of confidence with four wins in their last five games.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Kevin Berkoe, Timi Odusina, Jermaine Anderson (Ince 79’), Luke Wilkinson, Scott Cuthbert, Alfie Pavey (Delap 91’), Curtis Edwards, Charley Kendall, Jayden Luker

Unused subs: Osew, Smith, Andre Jr

Bookings: Pavey 2’, Luker 15’, Edwards 31’, Wilkinson 48’, Ince 90’

Goals: Berkoe 61’

Barnet: Josh Keeley, Reece Hall-Johnson (Gorman 68’), Ben Coker, Jerome Okimo, Callum Stead, Jordan Maguire-Drew (Collinge 80’), Anthony Hartigan, Gaitlin O’Donkor (Kabamba 68’), Ben Wynter, Adam Thompson, Zak Brunt

Unused subs: Walker, Cropper

Bookings: Brunt 43’, Hartigan 89’

Attendance: 2544

Man of the Match: Scott Cuthbert led the team brilliantly as stand in captain