Match Report | Cards come back from the dead on Good Friday

Maidenhead United 2-2 Woking
Vanarama National League
18th April 2025

York Road was the venue for Woking’s Good Friday fixture, Maidenhead United the hosts. With the Magpies starting the day five points from safety, whilst the Cards knew a win might be enough with other results in their favour, there were differing moods from both sets of supporters ahead of this one.

Neal Ardley chose to stick with the same starting eleven as he picked against AFC Fylde, with the Cards buoyed after two wins in two games, despite their hosts having also picked up two wins from their last two. There was ex Woking representation in the form of Sam Howes and Kane Ferdinand for the Magpies.

With the Cards shooting towards the away contingent in the first half, a solid start saw them dominate possession, with a good move ending in Lewis Walker heading wide inside the first ten minutes.

Maidenhead’s first meaningful attack would come after 25 minutes, and it would result in the opening goal being scored. Woking were caught on the break, and Reece Smith’s ball over the top was latched onto by Brendan Kiernan. He managed to get free from his marker, firing into the bottom corner to the delight of the home fans behind the goal.

From this point on, the Cards were unable to get into their opponents’ half, and a number of blocks and clearances prevented the hosts from doubling their lead right on the stroke of half time. Work to do after the break, with a physical battle as expected going the way of the hosts.


Half-time: Maidenhead United 1-0 Woking

Ardley’s response to the first half showing from Woking was an attacking change, as Tunji Akinola would be replaced by Josh Osude, changing shape from a 4-3-3 to what resembled a 4-4-2.

A quiet opening fifteen minutes would end in a second for Maidenhead, after a corner from the right hand side was delivered by Nathan Ferguson into the path of Miles Welch-Hayes at the back post, who managed to squeeze his header into the net despite a number of attempted clearances.

The defender wheeled away in celebration towards the 540-strong Woking contingent, cupping his ears and saying some choice words. After the Cards were awarded a corner just minutes after Welch-Hayes’ goal, Dale Gorman’s pinpoint delivery was well headed by Walker into the top corner to reduce the deficit.

Gorman would play a key part in the equaliser too, with barely six minutes between 2-0 and 2-2 as his low cross was flicked into the bottom corner by Aiden O’Brien, a fantastic piece of skill and jubilation for the travelling fans.

With Woking tails up, an audacious effort from O’Brien from outside the penalty area took a slight deflection and flew just wide of Howes’ far post, before another corner caused problems but was headed wide by Effiong.

Maidenhead threw on three subs including the introduction of Sam Barratt with just ten minutes to go as they hoped and prayed for a winner to give them hope, and his long throws were well defended by the Cards, before the Magpies produced one more chance in stoppage time.

Barratt’s free kick was headed by fellow sub Tristan Abrahams into Welch-Hayes’ path, and the defender headed home from about two yards, but the flag was quickly raised as he was clearly offside.

A point apiece, one that does Woking far more good than their hosts as they maintain a six point cushion over 21st placed Dagenham & Redbridge ahead of derby day on Easter Monday, whilst Maidenhead will surely have to beat Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale to stand any chance of avoiding the dreaded drop.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Kelly-Evans, Hinds, Odusina, Okoli, Akinola (Osude 45’ (Anderson 90+2’), Andrews, Gorman, Walker, Effiong, O’Brien

Subs: Webber, Chicksen, Moss, Lawson, Ashford

Goals: Walker 62’, O’Brien 67’

Bookings: O’Brien 87’, Okoli 90+3’

Maidenhead United: Howes, de Havilland, Latty-Fairweather, Ferguson (Johnson, 69’), McCoulsky, Ferdinand, Pettit (Barratt, 80’), Smith, Clerima (Massey, 31’), Kiernan (Abrahams, 80’), Welch-Hayes.

Subs: Cochrane, Wreh, Sho-Silva

Goals: Kiernan 25, Welch-Hayes 60’

Bookings: Kiernan 78’


Attendance: 1976 (540 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: A very solid midfield performance from Jamie Andrews, who grew in confidence as the game went on.