Wealdstone 1 – 0 Woking

Wealdstone 1-0 Woking Vanarama National League22nd March 2025

Woking travelled to Grosvenor Vale to take on a Wealdstone side buoyed by four points from their last two games against Eastleigh and Altrincham.

Neal Ardley made just one change to the side defeated by Barnet at the Laithwaite, with Dale Gorman missing out as he served the first game of a three game suspension. In came Jermaine Anderson, with loan signing Sha’mar Lawson making the bench after joining from Millwall in midweek.

A side with plenty of ex Woking representation, just the one ex player this time around, but one close to Cardinal hearts as Max Kretzschmar took his place in midfield. Jack Cook missed out through injury, with Sam Ashford also absent.

With a backdrop of light rain gracing the Vale, Jamie Andrews kicked off the game towards the Holywell Stand housing the more vocal Wealdstone supporters.

The Cards started strongly, with a couple of foiled attempts by the Wealdstone offside trap then followed up by a Dion Kelly-Evans cross being glanced towards goal by Harry Beautyman, who forced on loan Spurs ‘keeper Luca Gunter into a save.

Another good move involving Inih Effiong, Jamie Andrews and Kelly-Evans saw the latter blaze over from a tight angle after the Cards worked the ball well around the Stones’ penalty area.

Then came a period without many chances for either side as regular fouls turned the game into a stop-start affair. Wealdstone did register their first meaningful attempt after 38 minutes when Tyler Walker ran in behind the Woking defence but his powerful shot was beaten away by Will Jaaskelainen.

The following corner was somehow not turned in after a scramble at the back post evaded a final touch from a man in blue and white, with Wealdstone finishing the half the stronger.

Woking managed to see it out until half time, where a regroup would be needed. The Cards edged the first twenty five minutes or so, but Wealdstone looked stronger as the half wore on.

Half-time: Wealdstone 0-0 Woking

In response to the first half, Neal Ardley made an attacking substitution, taking Dan Moss off for Lewis Walker as the Cards changed formation.

Appeals for a penalty for the hosts after a corner supposedly deflected off a Woking hand were swiftly waved away before two of those ‘how did he save that’ moments from Jaaskelainen after somehow clawing Connor McAvoy’s close range effort away from goal before a header from the same defender was brilliantly tipped away.

Substitute Kallum Cesay aimed to catch Jaaskelainen out with a shot from the right hand side, but the Finn tipped behind for yet another Wealdstone corner.

Woking produced a rare chance when Andrews’ long throw was nodded towards goal by Okoli, but Lewis Walker couldn’t scramble the ball home at the back post. Another Andrews set piece was again met by Okoli, but Akinola’s attempt at goal was well blocked.

As the clock neared the 90 minute mark, Dom Hutchinson found Micah Obiero with a cross, but the substitute headed over the bar under little pressure.

Gunter had rarely been tested throughout but came up trumps when a superb cross from Lawson was headed on by Kelly-Evans, but the Stones ‘keeper tipped over the bar.The Stones would secure a last gasp three points when a through ball was latched onto by Cesay, who kept his cool and rounded Jaaskelainen to slot the ball home.

A devastating blow for the Cards with effectively the last kick of the game to ramp the pressure up ahead of three consecutive home games in the next ten days.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Kelly-Evans, Moss (Walker 45’), Okoli, Akinola, Chicksen, Lewis (Odusina 69’), Anderson (Lawson 57’), Andrews, Beautyman, EffiongSubs: Webber, Jones, Vincent Bookings: Anderson 43’, Chicksen 44’, Beautyman 52’

Wealdstone : Gunter, Mariappa, Grant (McAvoy 7’), Boldewijn, Hutchinson, Sohna (Scott 90’), Dyer, Randall (Carayol 62’), Kretzschmar (Cesay 63’), Reid, Walker (Obiero 78’)Subs: Baptiste, Omole

Goals: Cesay 90+4’Bookings: McAvoy 22’, Cesay 71’Attendance: 1809

Man of the Match: Will Jaaskelainen once again kept the Cards in the game with a number of top saves.