Woking 2 Solihull Moors 0
Vanarama National League
24th September 2022

Woking rolled over Solihull Moors with goals from James Daly and Kyran Lofthouse to maintain an impressive home record and move up to seventh in the Vanarama National League.

The Cards made it four wins from five games at the Laithwaite Community Stadium thanks to goals in both halves from Daly, a smart back post header, and Lofthouse, who kept his cool to slot home, to condemn Solihull Moors to only their second defeat of the season.

The visitors lost Jamey Osbourne midway through the second half for a second booking, as Woking saw out the game to climb into the play-off places.

Woking manager Darren Sarll made two changes to the starting line-up which fell to defeat at Maidenhead United last time out, with Kyran Lofthouse and Reece Grego-Cox coming in for Tyreke Johnson and Jim Kellerman respectively.

The opening quarter of the match was a tense and tactical affair, with the visitors limited to a couple of free kick efforts, one of which was comfortably saved by Craig Ross.

But the game sparked into life on the 29th minute, triggered by Jermaine Anderson winning the ball back in Solihull’s half. Smart play by Woking released Dan Moss on the right wing, who swung over a pinpoint cross which Daly nodded in across goal from the back post for his fourth goal of the season.

Woking had two chances in quick succession to double their lead; first through Lofthouse who carved out space to see a left-foot shot deflected over and the resulting corner eventually fell to Daly who saw his curling effort saved by Louie Moulden.

The Cards saw out the remainder of the half resolutely to take a well-earned lead into the interval.

Half-time: Woking 1 Solihull Moors 0

A fired up Solihull returned for the second half aiming to strike back early, but the Cards weathered the storm as Sarll installed fresh legs in midfield as Kellerman came on for Anderson.

It did the trick as Kellerman and Josh Casey pressured Osbourne into losing possession near the left corner, releasing the ball to Daly who crossed low to Lofthouse who composed himself to pick his spot for his third goal of the campaign.

Woking held onto momentum to push for a third, with Rohan Ince dancing through Solihull players to find Grego-Cox who had his fierce shot pushed away for a corner by the Moors goalkeeper.

With the Cards’ faithful in full voice now, the visitor’s afternoon became even tougher when Osbourne was sent off with 25 minutes remaining, picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Casey having been booked in the first half for dissent.

Grego-Cox went close again to extending Woking’s control but his low shot was saved well by Moulden.

To the away team’s credit, they kept battling throughout and threatened to deny Ross a fourth clean sheet of the season, with Andrew Dallas having a good effort deflected wide.

As the game moved towards its conclusion, Woking were made to work again for their shutout, firstly from another Dallas shot parried and collected by Ross and then a James Clarke shot from the edge of the box which was straight at the Cards goalkeeper.

Woking held their nerve to complete a near-perfect afternoon in the early autumn sunshine. The Cards will aim to build on the performance in the next game at FC Halifax Town in seven days.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross; 3 Josh Casey ©, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 12 Dan Moss; 8 James Daly, 23 Jermaine Anderson (17 Jim Kellerman 52’), 24 Rohan Ince, 2 Kyran Lofthouse (29 Jake Vokins 70’); 9 Reece Grego-Cox, 10 Padraig Amond

Unused subs: 7 Ricky Korboa, 18 Jack Roles, 25 Sid Nelson

Goals: Daly 29’, Lofthouse 54’

Bookings: Lofthouse 30’, Anderson 50, Grego-Cox 51’

Solihull Moors 18 Louie Moulden; 2 James Clarke, 5 Callum Howe ©, 15 Fiacre Kelleher, 3 Ben Coker (27 Connor Parsons 75’); 8 Callum Maycock, 10 Jamey Osborne, 11 Ryan Barnett; 20 Callum Whelan (4 Kyle Storer 64’) 14 Josh Kelly 9 Andrew Dallas

Unused subs: 16 Ethan Vaughn, 12 Reiss McNally, 6 Alex Gudger

Bookings: Osbourne 38’, Kelleher 81’

Sent off: Osbourne 65’

Referee: Paul Johnson

Attendance: 2746 – 127 Solihull Moors supporters

Man of the Match: Scott Cuthbert – an immovable block in the Woking defence and key to the clean sheet.