Match Report | Cards edge thriller against Daggers

Woking 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Vanarama National League
6th April 2024

Michael Doyle made three changes from the 1-1 draw to Bromley on Monday, as Finn Delap made way for Alan Judge, Charley Kendall was replaced by Reece Grego-Cox and Jermaine Anderson started over Jayden Luker.

Woking began in a lively fashion, as a great ball from Dion Kelly Evans in the first minute was headed just wide by Grego-Cox. Just seconds later, captain Scott Cuthbert forced a fantastic save out of Dagenham keeper Elliot Justham from five yards.

Woking’s early persistence paid off, as in the sixth minute a mistake from Justham under pressure saw the ball fall to Jermaine Anderson who slotted the ball into an open net.

However, in the eleventh minute, a mistake from Cuthbert at the back saw Ryan Hill through on goal as he finished comfortably past Jaaskelainen to level the score.

The visitors took control after their equaliser, with a fantastic shot from distance by Ryan Hill forcing a brilliant save from Jaaskelainen after 26 minutes.

An end-to-end first half that ended in dramatic fashion as a ball across the goal from Dagenham saw Josh Rees fire over the crossbar from extremely close range as the two sides went in level.


Half-time: Woking 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge

The second-half began in the same lively manner as the first. Inih Effiong for the visitors fired his free kick over the bar and Ricky Korboa sliced a great opportunity wide inside the box for the Cardinals.

Kevin Berkoe worked his left side of the pitch well in the second-half, but the ball would not fall in the final third for Woking.

He came very close in the 77th minute, as a ball across the box fell to him on the volley but he fired over the crossbar.

Just one minute later, a quick break away from Lawless saw the ball fall to Effiong but his curling effort fell wide of the mark.

A close and scrappy game for a large part of the second half, but Woking kept pushing for the goal and it finally came in the 85th minute. The substitute Jayden Luker drove forward and played the ball into Berkoe who struck the ball brilliantly as it hit the crossbar and bounced into the net to give Woking a massive goal for their survival hopes.

The Cards would secure a massive win in the 93rd minute, as Luker found space on the edge of the box and curled his strike into the top left corner with a brilliant strike.

Connor Lawless added a late consolation goal with a quality finish into the bottom left corner in the 95th to make it a nervy ending for Woking, but they held on to push themselves further away from the relegation zone with a massive three points.


Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Kevin Berkoe, Alan Judge (Luker 59’) , Dion Kelly-Evans, Luke Wilkinson, Scott Cuthbert, Ricky Korboa (Browne 79’), Curtis Edwards, Reece Grego-Cox (Kendell 53’), Jermaine Anderson

Unused subs: Casey, Pavey

Bookings: Kelly-Evans 51’

Goals: Anderson 6’, Berkoe 85’, Luker 93’


Dagenham & Redbridge: Elliot Justham, Josh Hare, Tom Eastman, Jake Hessenthaler, Josh Rees, Inih Effiong, Ryan Hill, Dion Pereira (Lawless 71’), Lewis Page (Johnson 36’), Sam Ling (Kedwell 75’), Keenan Appiah-Forson

Unused subs: Remy

Bookings: Hill 43’

Goals: Hill 11’, Lawless 95’

Attendance: 2544 (161 Dagenham & Redbridge)

Man of the Match: Dion Kelly-Evans was tenacious and threw himself into every challenge.