Match Report | Cards perform demolition job on Easter Monday

Woking 3-0 Aldershot Town
Vanarama National League
21st April 2025

Three changes were made by Neal Ardley from the Maidenhead game, with Dan Moss, Adam Chicksen and Sam Ashford in for Dion Kelly-Evans, who made the bench, whilst Timi Odusina and Inih Effiong were omitted from the squad. Matt Ward made a welcome return to the bench.

Meanwhile, the Shots lined up much changed from the Trophy game, with both James Henry and Josh Barrett benched alongside match winner Jack Barham, whilst Theo Widdrington was one name not in the squad.

With a raucous atmosphere inside the Laithwaite, it took just three minutes for the Cards to break the deadlock. A clipped ball over the top from Jamie Andrews reached Tariq Hinds on the left hand side, who composed himself and finished into the bottom corner to bag his first goal for Woking.

Woking were on top, and had two chances to double the scoreline inside the first ten minutes. Good hold up play from Ashford saw him tee up Lewis Walker, whose first shot was well blocked before a stab at goal landed on the roof of the net.

They had their second after 13 minutes, when the ball rebounded to Dan Moss after Walker’s initial shot was blocked on the line. His scuffed left footed finish found its way into a half empty net.

Woking had a third after just 18 minutes when a sumptuous left footed cross from Chicksen beat Marcus Dewhurst, and there was Hinds for his second Woking goal, his finish in off the bar.

Jamie Andrews was running rings round the Shots, and his one two with O’Brien ended in a ball across the box that ought to have been finished.

After a quiet ten minutes or so, Ashford danced past the Shots defence after being gifted the ball, but his shot was straight at Dewhurst.

O’Brien’s close range effort was somehow blocked and cleared off the line after a free kick was flicked on into the danger zone, as the Cards searched for a fourth.

A superb run and cross from Hinds was met by the head of Walker, who fired wide with just a minute left of the first half as Woking continued to dominate. Another chance somehow was spurned when O’Brien and Ashford combined, with the former’s shot well saved by Dewhurst before the ball went wide via his forehead.

Woking went into half time three goals to the good, but no doubt wondering how on earth it wasn’t more. Certainly one of the most dominant first half displays from the Cards in recent memory.

Half-time: Woking 3-0 Aldershot Town

After half time, the inevitable response from the visitors followed. A penalty appeal was waved away with no major complaints, before Ryan Jones’ shot deflected wide via Akinola. Hady Ghandour then fired one high and over the bar from inside the box.

A fierce challenge from Moss, on a yellow card as well, saw him take the ball but leave Ryan Jones worse for wear, and he had to be stretchered off. We wish him the best in his recovery. Two Aldershot players were booked for protesting the decision as well.

A well-disguised free kick from substitute Henry ended in Will Jaaskelainen having to make a save down to his right after a flick-on, with the game entering its last ten minutes.

As we entered eight minutes of injury time, yet another brilliant pass from Andrews found Frank Vincent, who forced a good diving save from Dewhurst with his whipped effort.

Woking saw the game out professionally to secure a big three points and effectively their status for next season, whilst putting in a fantastic performance in front of a bumper Laithwaite crowd.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Moss (Ward 72’), Hinds, Chicksen (Vincent 42’), Okoli, Akinola, Andrews, Gorman (Anderson 38’), Walker, Ashford (Osude 87’), O’Brien (Kelly-Evans 67’)

Subs: Webber, Sayers

Goals: Hinds 3’, 18’, Moss 13’

Bookings: Moss 11’, Anderson 61’, Ward 77’

Aldershot Town: Dewhurst, Frost (Mullins 84’), R Jones (Corbett 72’), Anderson (Maja 80’), A Jones (Henry 63’), Ghandour (Barham 56’), Woodhouse, Tetek, Ellison, Armitage, Thomas

Subs: Van Stappershoef, Barrett

Bookings: Ellison 33’, Tetek 41’, Barham 68’, Dewhurst 68’

Attendance: 4701

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Two-goal Tariq Hinds was superb and fully deserved this accolade amongst a number of excellent Cardinal performers.