Another ugly win, thanks to a late goal from Padraig Amond, saw The Cards take a valuable set of three points and extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions. Back-to-back 1-0 victories cemented Woking’s early place in the playoff spots, with a comfortable gap to 8th.
Yeovil beat Woking three times last season and was unbeaten in their last five meetings with the hosts. However, since Darren Sarll departed The Glovers in March for Woking, they already find themselves on their fourth manager. The visitor’s squad also still had the core built by Sarll over recent seasons, with EFL additions included over the summer. This victory goes to show how special it is because despite a changed side, forced through injuries and suspension, Woking still came out on top.
It was the visitors who started on the front foot early when Ewan Clark's delivery was sent towards Alex Fisher but was cleared well by the defence.Grant Smith's first save of the night came a quarter of an hour in, when he easily caught a shot from Jahmari Clarke, who received his first start thanks to Saturday’s goal.
Yeovil was back in attack when Ben Richards-Everton picked out Owen Bevan, but the Bournemouth loanee couldn't develop any power on his header.There was a total of four yellow cards in this game for the away side, with Jamie Andrews collecting the first on his debut, after a late challenge on Ricky Korboa.
The Glovers had a small spell on top where a number of crosses were sent into the Woking box, but none managed to find a forward on the end of them.Richards-Everton was the next player to find his name in the referee’s pocket, after he left a late challenge on Jim Kellermann.
The yellow cards kept coming, when on the stroke of half time, Ewan Clark disgracefully got caught in the act of diving, which the home supporters didn’t forget for the remainder of the game.
Not the most entertaining first half of football but with the weather conditions getting colder, the players on both sides were going to need to come out all guns blazing in the second forty-five minutes to make sure they kept as warm as possible.
HT: 0-0
In the second half, Woking found themselves dominating the opening ten minutes and when Padraig Amond was slipped through one on one with the ‘keeper, it looked like the first goal would arrive but it was a fairly simple save in the end, as he couldn’t find an angle.
Just a matter of minutes later though, Jermaine Anderson’s brilliant close control saw him win a penalty after a foul in the box from Bevan. Due to Reece Grego-Cox being out with a slight injury, Amond stepped up to take the spot kick but his penalty was saved by the goalkeeper, down to his left-hand side after a poor attempt along the floor.
Despite the missed opportunity to take the lead, it was clear Woking were the better side and continuously kept coming forward. Jamie Reckford was the fourth and final Yeovil player to be booked as a consequence of the constant pressure his side was facing.
In the final few minutes of the game, substitute Jack Roles found space out wide and put in a well-teased cross which bounced in front of Grant Smith, who expected his defender at the back post to clear, but persistent ‘Podge’ was there to tap in and sent Kingfield into ruptures. Amond’s goal, luckily for him, put the penalty miss aside as his goal was enough to take all the points in a game of fine margins.
FT: 1-0
These last two results might not be headline news, but (and it’s important to state this again) results like these last year, where both teams are level in the final few minutes, would end up going the other way. Instead of holding out for a point, Woking would lose in the final few minutes. Not only have they gone one better, but they’re managing to find ways to actually win the game. If the team really does have ambitions of finishing in the top seven, then these are the game you’ll look back on and appreciate more than you’re 0-4 away win at FC Halifax Town for example.
Speaking to Woking striker Rhys Browne after the game, I asked him (despite not playing tonight due to a slight injury), what he thought of his new teammates and also the game that took place tonight to which he said, “It’s good to get to know the lads from a different perspective as teammates and the game was a good performance with a big win which is all the matters at the end of the day.”
Now, the big Emirates FA Cup First Round fixture against League One side Oxford United is up next, so I asked Rhys if he would be available to which he responded, “Yeah hopefully I’ll be back in ready for the manager, if he picks me for the game.”
Alongside Rhys, hopefully other key players like Luke Wilkinson, Reece Grego-Cox and Kyran Lofthouse will also be available as a big cup shock could be on the horizon on Sunday. Woking has a prestige history in this competition and the magic of the cup could make its way to Surrey this weekend.
Woking Starting XI: Ross, Moss, Cuthbert, McNerney, Casey (c), Ince, Anderson, Kellermann, Korboa (90), Clarke (69), Amond (90+3)
Subs: Wady, Bilongo (90+3), Roles (69), Vokins (90), Roberts
Yeovil Starting XI: Smith, Johnson (63), Bevan, Hunt, Richards-Everton, Reckord, Staunton, Andrews, Linton (63), Fisher, Clark (83)
Subs: Buse, Perry (83), Toure (63), Dawes (63), Hulbert
Attendance: 1,981
Man of the Match: Jermaine Anderson
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