Woking 1-1 York City
Enterprise National League
25th August 2025

Woking hosted a York side who many have tipped to be this season’s champions, after the visitors had no game on Saturday unlike the Cards.

Neal Ardley made several changes, with the most influential being the introduction of Timmy Akinola into the midfield. This would be his best game yet for the Cards as the sun beamed down on the Laithwaite.

After a cagey start saw the visitors dominate much of the ball, it was Woking who were clinical at the other end. A fantastic Jamie Andrews through ball was raced onto by Aaron Drewe, who managed to fire home at the near post with the aid of a deflection from Callum Howe.

Confidence is always talked about in football, and Woking were showing it in abundance, not before Josh Stones headed over from a few yards to give them a scare. The midfield partnership of Jack Turner and Akinola was working nicely, with the former’s superb delivery just glanced wide by the arriving Harry Beautyman.

Much of the remainder of the first half was stop start, with the only other notable moment being a good save from Tom Norcott, making his league debut, to deny a curling effort from Ollie Banks on the stroke of half time.

Half time: Woking 1-0 York City

Seven minutes into the second half, York were back in contention. With Tunji Akinola temporarily off the pitch, the Minstermen flew down the right hand side and in fortuitous fashion, Alex Newby’s attempted cross landed over Norcott and into the back of the net.

Three attacking substitutions signalled York’s intent to not just settle for a point, and Tyrese Sinclair teed up Joe Felix inside the box, who forced a good block from Timmy Akinola.

Ardley introduced Aiden O’Brien and Josh Osude to the fray, and O’Brien nearly punished some lacklustre York defending, but was denied well by Harrison Male.

Osude had a mishit of his own which nearly looped into the net but his cameo was most encouraging for how he kept winning the ball back and getting the Cards up the pitch

This may have ended all square but Woking can take heart from how they kept a fresh York side at bay and put in a performance well received by the home crowd.

Woking: Norcott, Drewe, Tunji Akinola, Odusina (Okoli 63’), Richards, Hinds, Andrews, Turner, Timmy Akinola, Beautyman (Osude 76’), Ashford (O’Brien 68’)

Subs: Ross, Hall, Hyde

Goals: Drewe 21’

York City: Male, Felix, Howe, Fagan-Walcott, Kitching, Banks, Boateng, Grey (Nathaniel-George 55’), Stones (Pearce 55’), Hunt, Newby (Sinclair 55’)

Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Palmer, Brookes

Goals: Newby 52’

Attendance 3198

Player of the Match Awarded to Aaron Drewe for his all round performance at right back.