LCS Events
3:00pm - SundaySun 26th DecemberDec 2021
The EBB Stadium | Att: 3699

Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town
1 - 1

Woking
Woking

Struggling Woking looking to upend the form book in Boxing Day clash

Glen Harrington
3:32pm, Thu 23rd Dec 2021
Aldershot Town vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Sunday 26th December 2021


Woking will be hoping to put a dent in two unflattering recent records when they make the short trip to local rivals Aldershot Town for the pair’s traditional Boxing Day clash.

The Cards were closing in on a surprise 1-0 win at Yeovil Town in last weekend’s FA Trophy meeting, only for three late goals to dump Alan Dowson’s side out of the competition in dramatic fashion and leave the visitors to dwell on what might have been. Dowse and his team have now lost 10 of their last 13 outings, excluding the Surrey Senior Cup, whilst the Shots are unbeaten in six, winning five, since a 5-0 home thrashing by Wrexham at the start of last month. Woking fans will also be all too aware of their recent record against their Hampshire rivals, having lost seven of the last eight meetings, with the one success coming in the FA Cup last October.

Dowse’s squad is littered with problems, with Jamar Loza still banned, and no update on the fitness of Kyran Lofthouse, Solomon Nwabuokei, or Jermaine Anderson, who were all absent last time out, whilst Max Kretzschmar, Tyreke Johnson, and Rohan Ince all picked up slight niggles against the Glovers. The Cards have added the versatile defender/midfielder Shane Dunne to the squad, with the Irishmen making his debut from the bench last weekend.

Opposition Watch

Aldershot have endured a challenging season. Former manager Danny Searle was sacked in September after losing five of the club’s first seven games of the season. He was replaced by former Weymouth and Southend United boss Mark Moseley, who was himself seemingly under pressure after a string of poor results, which included just one win from his first eight games and defeat in the FA Cup by minnows Bowers & Pitsea.

The festive period has been kinder however, with wins over Grimsby, Torquay, King’s Lynn, Eastleigh, and a draw with Altrincham, elevating the Shots to 18th in the league table with 20 points from 19 games, just four fewer than the Cards and five clear of the bottom three. Last weekend they beat Kingstonian in the FA Trophy and they now face a home tie with Bromley next month.

Their current squad includes former Woking midfielders Toby Edser and Jayden Harris, whilst striker Corie Andrews, on loan from AFC Wimbledon, is one to watch out for with the youngster having bagged seven goals so far this season. Notable recent additions include former Oldham Athletic player Mohamed Sylla, veteran midfielder Scott Wagstaff, previously with Charlton Athletic and most recently Forest Green Rovers, and on loan winger Ryan Glover from AFC Bournemouth.

Recent Meetings

• Woking 0-1 Aldershot Town – 2nd January 2021, National League
• Aldershot Town 3-0 Woking – 26th December 2020, National League
• Aldershot Town 1-2 Woking – 24th October 2020, Emirates FA Cup (Davison, Kretzschmar)
• Woking 0-1 Aldershot Town – 6th August 2019, National League
• Woking 1-2 Aldershot Town – 1st January 2018, National League (Ferdinand)

On the Day

Aldershot’s home ground is the EBB Stadium. The postcode is GU11 1TW.

Ticket information can be found here. The cost is £20 for Adults, Concessions £16, Under 17s £7.

Max keeps his cool to rescue Cards in late Boxing Day derby drama

William Bewsey
5:04pm, Mon 27th Dec 2021
Aldershot Town 1 Woking 1
Vanarama National League
26th December 2021

Woking rescued a point against ten-man Aldershot Town in a close encounter at the EBB Stadium.

Almost 3,700 people were inside the EBB for the annual Boxing Day clash between the Cards and their Hampshire rivals. With form guides putting the Shots near the top and Woking near the bottom, and of course with recent history in this fixture going against the Cards, you could be forgiven for thinking that this was going to be another long day for Alan Dowson’s side.

Woking lined up in the usual 5-3-2 formation, with Josh Casey appearing to occupy a space in the centre of midfield, possibly due to the absence of Rohan Ince, with Solomon Nwabuokei on the bench. Notable players for Mark Molesley’s Shots included pantomime villain Lewis Kinsella, with former short-term Woking loanee Jayden Harris on the bench.

As the players walked out at a boisterous EBB Stadium, there was a minutes’ applause for former Woking and Aldershot striker Marvin Morgan, who tragically passed away aged just 38 earlier this month.

The Cards started the game well, moving the ball quickly towards the wing-back pair of Tommy Block and Kyran Lofthouse. Tahvon Campbell was keeping the Shots defenders busy, and his very early shot was deflected into the hands of Aldershot keeper Laurie Walker.

The game developed into a scrappy encounter, with neither team being able to create anything clear cut. Woking dominated the ball but couldn’t break through the Shots defence. Inih Effiong found his way into the box, slaloming past defenders, but couldn’t pull the trigger and test Laurie Walker.

Campbell fired harmlessly wide after twenty minutes following a good run, before Johnson’s shot looped over the bar via a deflection. Kretzschmar’s corner was punched away by Walker, but only as far as Louie Annesley, whose flick almost crept into the corner of the net, but Walker was there to collect.

Former Shots man Jermaine Anderson was playing well in the Woking midfield, helping distribute the ball and turning neatly away from his marker. He almost fed Tahvon Campbell through on goal, but the ball zipped off the wet surface for a goal kick.

Woking had a golden chance to take the lead just before half time. Great play between Block and Campbell saw the latter put an inviting cross into the box, and Max Kretzschmar’s free header sailed agonisingly over the Aldershot bar. Johnson found himself in the book shortly afterwards for bringing down Alfy Whittingham on the counter attack, but the free kick amounted to nothing and both sides headed down the tunnel for half time.

Aldershot Town 0 Woking 0

Aldershot started the second half well, with Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong robbing Annesley of the ball, before firing just over the bar. The Aldershot midfielder won a free kick after being fouled by Joe McNerney, who was booked. Shots’ captain Kinsella stepped up and his effort was pushed behind by Craig Ross for a corner. Corey Jordan might have done better with his header from the resulting corner, firing over the bar whilst unmarked.

Alfie Saunders gave the referee a decision to make moments later, when he went into Max Kretzschmar with plenty of force. Referee Daniel Middleton dished out the red card, and Aldershot were down to ten men, with more than half an hour left.

The Shots reorganised themselves well, with Berkeley-Agyepong making way for Harris, and they frustrated Woking. Alan Dowson responded by taking Casey and Block off, and replacing them with Solomon Nwabuokei and Kyran Lofthouse.

Anderson found his way into the book after fouling Giles Phillips, as Aldershot frustrated Woking, winning fouls and stopping the Cards from getting any rhythm together. Tyreke Johnson’s free kick was headed just wide by Mo Sylla, before Anderson blazed over after good work from Lofthouse.

Disaster struck for the Cards with just five minutes of normal time left. Lofthouse was adamant he’d been fouled just outside his own box, but Kinsella picked up the ball and drove into the box. Tom Champion’s dangling leg made contact with the Shots’ skipper, and Daniel Middleton pointed to the spot.

Top scorer Corie Andrews took the responsibility of the spot kick, and calmly dispatched the ball away from the diving Ross. Aldershot had an unlikely lead and their fans celebrated with joy.

McNerney made way for Louis Britton as Woking desperately looked to rescue themselves from a devastating derby defeat. Walker had to tip Lofthouse’s effort behind for a Woking corner, but Aldershot cleared.

Tommy Williard was brought on for Andrews as the clock hit 90, and minutes later he had the chance to put the game to bed. A clearance from Alfy Whittingham was controlled well by the forward, and he ran through unopposed, before side footing the ball past the onrushing Ross, only for it to hit the far post and eventually find its way back to a grateful Ross.

Moments later, and drama at the other end. Kinsella attempted to clear the ball away, but caught Tahvon Campbell instead. Daniel Middleton once again pointed to the spot.

Max Kretzschmar assumed responsibility for the penalty kick, and with more than six hundred Woking fans struggling to watch, he stepped up and slotted the ball down the middle of Walker’s goal.

Max Kretzschmar’s last gasp equaliser
Max Kretzschmar’s last gasp equaliser
David Holmes


Full-time followed shortly after, relief for the Cards and their travelling fans, after a nail-biting match in Hampshire. Alan Dowson will hope that his side’s resilience will help them string a run of results together, with rock bottom Dover coming to Kingfield, before the Shots travel to Surrey for the reverse fixture. Woking have Kretzschmar to thank for keeping his cool and ending a run of four straight defeats in league and cup.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey (Solomon Nwabuokei 66’), 4 Tom Champion, 5 Joe McNerney (Louis Britton 87’), 9 Inih Effiong, 10 Max Kretzschmar, 11 Tyreke Johnson, 16 Louie Annesley, 19 Tahvon Campbell, 21 Tommy Block (Kyran Lofthouse 66’), 23 Jermaine Anderson

Unused subs: Mark Smith, Moussa Diarra

Bookings:Tyreke Johnson 44’, Joe McNerney 52’, Jermaine Anderson 68’

Goals: Max Kretzschmar 90+4

Aldershot Town Laurie Walker , Lewis Kinsella, Alfy Whittingham, Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (Jayden Harris 60′), Corie Andrews (Tommy Willard 90′), Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ryan Glover (Ben Shroll 72′), Corey Jordan, Mo Sylla, Giles Phillips, Alfie Saunders

Unused subs: Mitch Walker, Mikail Ndjoli

Goals: Corie Andrews 86’

Bookings: Lewis Kinsella 83’

Sent off:: Alfie Saunders 56’

Referee: Daniel Middleton

Attendance: 3699 (643 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Max Kretzschmar capped off a busy performance in midfield with an expertly taken spot kick under the most intense of pressure.
Aldershot Town LINEUP
37Laurie Walker
26Alfie Saunders
3Lewis Kinsella
16Corey Jordan
22Giles Phillips
12Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain
7Alfy Whittingham
18Mohamad Sylla
10Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong ('60)
14Ryan Glover ('72)
11Corie Andrews ('90)
BENCH
1Mitch Walker
21Ben Shroll ('72)
23Jayden Harris ('60)
20Mikael Ndjoli
27Tommy Willard ('90)
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
21Tommy Block ('66)
3Josh Casey ('66)
5Joe McNerney ('86)
16Louie Annesley
4Tom Champion
23Jermaine Anderson
10Max Kretzschmar
11Tyreke Johnson
19Tahvon Campbell
9Inih Effiong
BENCH
1Mark Smith
2Kyran Lofthouse ('66)
6Moussa Diarra
8Solomon Nwabuokei ('66)
18Louis Britton ('86)

Aldershot Town 1-1 Woking | Dowse Interview

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