Match Preview | Woking boss preparing for first Cards v Shots derby

Glen Harrington
5:35pm, Sat 24th Dec 2022

Aldershot Town vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Monday 26th December 2022

Woking and Aldershot Town will renew their rivalry on Monday as the pair go head-to-head in a Boxing Day fixture in the National League. It will be Woking manager Darren Sarll’s first meeting with the Shots since becoming the Cards’ boss in March.

The Cards come into the game following back-to-back defeats for the first time since August and with just one win in five in all competitions – although they have never gone more than two games in a row without winning so far this season. Their latest defeat came on Tuesday evening in the FA Trophy when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Eastleigh. Sarll has since admitted that a bout of illness disrupted his squad’s preparations, with the likes of Josh Casey, Scott Cuthbert, Joe McNerney, Jermaine Anderson, and James Daly among those known to be suffering.

Those that have been struggling with illness are all expected to be fully recovered in time for Monday’s game, meaning that long-term injury absentee Luke Wilkinson, along with Reece Grego-Cox and Ricky Korboa, are the only likely absentees. It means Sarll could revert to 4-3-3 with Anderson joining Rohan Ince and Jim Kellermann in midfield, or 4-4-2, with Daly and Kyran Lofthouse on the flanks.

Opposition Watch

Aldershot are in their tenth straight season in the National League and are looking to improve on four consecutive bottom half finishes. Last season they finished in 20th position, albeit a comfortable nine points clear of the relegation places. This looked set to be another challenging campaign for the Shots who took just 11 points from their first 13 league games and were knocked out of the FA Cup in qualifying by National League South side Chelmsford City.

That run of results led to the departure of manager Mark Molesley after 13 months in charge and has led to a significant upturn in results – 15 points from eight games and advancement in the FA Trophy under first interim, now new permanent, manager Ross McNeilly. Wins have come over York, Yeovil, Dorking, Southend, and Gateshead, conceding just one goal in the process, lifting the Shots to 18th in the league table, six points clear of the bottom four and seven adrift of the play-off places.

The Shots signed a large cohort of new players in the summer, including former Woking striker Inih Effiong, who has scored six league goals this season and will no doubt be looking to come back to haunt his former employers over Christmas. Their top scorer is former Scottish Premiership winger Justin Amaluzor who came from Motherwell. Other notable additions were ex-Weymouth defender Tyler Cordner and experienced midfielder Joe Partington from Bromley.

Recent Meetings

• Woking 2-3 Aldershot Town – 2nd January 2022, National League (Kretzschmar 2)
• Aldershot Town 1-1 Woking – 26th December 2021, National League (Kretzschmar)
• 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)

Tickets

Tickets are priced at £20 for adults, £16 Concessions, £7 Under 17s, and Under 11s FREE. For more information and to book your ticket please click here.

Match Report | Cards Secure Derby Win At Rec

Connor Laing
3:22pm, Tue 27th Dec 2022

Aldershot Town 1 Woking 2
Vanarama National League
26th December 2022

Woking won the Christmas bragging rights in their derby against Aldershot Town with a 1-2 victory at the EBB Stadium on Boxing Day.

The visitors took the lead early on from the spot, with Rhys Browne getting on the scoresheet.

An own goal from Corey Jordan doubled the advantage before a late consolation from former Card Inih Effiong scored from the penalty spot.

Both sides remain in their respective positions of 4th and 18th in the table going into the New Year.

Darren Sarll made four changes to his starting line-up from Tuesday’s Trophy defeat against Eastleigh. Charlie O'Connell, Jake Vokins, Kyran Lofthouse and Ricky Korboa dropped out the side for Joe McNerney, Josh Casey, Jermaine Anderson and James Daly.

In the 10th minute, a clever bit of skill from Padraig Amond got him inside the Aldershot box on the right-hand-side, before he was tripped by the man who he had turned in the first place, Tyler Cordner.

It was Browne who stepped up to calmly slot into the bottom right corner, sending Ashby-Hammond the wrong way and giving Woking the lead in the 11th minute.

The first half, albeit closely contested, lacked many clear-cut chances for either team after the opening goal.

Amond’s left-footed volley flew just over in the 28th minute when the ball dropped to him kindly on the left-hand-side.

Woking hit the net again with a minute to go in the half, although this time it was into the side-netting as Daly’s drive didn’t trouble Ashby-Hammond.

Craig Ross was forced into a save in the closing seconds of the half with Justin Amaluzor‘s shot from inside the box on the left-hand-side ending up being a comfortable gather for the Woking man.

HT: Aldershot Town 0 Woking 1

The second half began in a similar way to the first. Neither team could really get a firm grasp on the match.

Amaluzor looked like he was in to score just shy of the hour mark, but Joe McNerney got a across brilliantly to make a vital block in the nick of time.

Aldershot had another half-chance with 20 minutes to play, with Jordan getting a good connection on a header from a set-piece, but unfortunately for the defender, it was straight at Ross.

Just a minute later, Woking struck the post. Browne’s mazy run from the halfway line opened up the Aldershot defence before the number 14 threaded it through to the on-rushing Anderson. The midfielder’s left-footed attempt from a tight angle rattled the outside of the left post.

It was eventually two, courtesy of an Aldershot toe. A well-worked down the right between Moss, Anderson and Kellermann created space for the latter to fire a ball into the box. It was Jordan who was the unfortunate Aldershot man, who had to watch his touch divert the ball in off the far post.

With two minutes to play the home side were given an opportunity to reduce the deficit and get back into the game from the spot. It was Dan Moss who was at fault, being penalised for a shirt pull in the box. It got worse for the full-back as the incident resulted in a second yellow card followed by a red, leaving the Cards with ten men.

Once the players had settled down and everyone was in position, it was former Woking man Effiong who converted from the spot two minutes later, coolly down the middle.

There were some nervy moments towards the end, in the six additional minutes that were added on, not limited to but including an Aldershot header going just wide with the final touch of the match, but the Cards held firm in the end.

FT: Aldershot Town 1 Woking 2

Aldershot Town: 1 Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2 Archie Davies, 3 Ollie Harfield, 4 Joe Partington ©, 5 Tyler Cordner, 7 Justin Amaluzor, 8 Frank Vincent, 9 Inih Effiong, 16 Corey Jordan, 20 Michael Klass (11 Panayioutou 59’), 23 Ryan Glover

Unused Subs: 11 Harrison Panayiotou, 12 Marcel Elva-Fountaine, 21 Ben Shroll, 22 Giles Phillips, 31 Ben De Lacy-Turner

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey ©, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 5 Joe McNerney, 8 James Daly, 10 Padraig Amond (15 Charlie O’Connell 78’), 12 Dan Moss, 14 Rhys Browne (29 Jake Vokins 90+4’), 17 Jim Kellermann (18 Jack Roles 90’), 23 Jermaine Anderson, 24 Rohan Ince

Unused Subs: 1 Ethan Wady, 11 Tyreke Johnson,

Attendance: 4,621 (1,041 away)

Man of the Match: Joe McNerney – a rock and leader at the back, who made a few vital challenges in the game

Aldershot Town LINEUP
1	Luca Ashby-Hammond
2	Archie Davies
3	Ollie Harfield
16	Corey Jordan
5	Tyler Cordner
4	Joe Partington
8	Frank Vincent
20	Michael Klass ('59)
7	Justin Amaluzor
23	Ryan Glover
9	Inih Effiong
BENCH
12	Marcel Elva-Fountaine
21	Ben Shroll
22	Giles Phillips
11	Harry Panayiotou ('59)
31	Ben De Lacy-Turner

WOKING LINEUP
13	Craig Ross
12	Dan Moss
3	Josh Casey
4	Scott Cuthbert
5	Joe McNerney
24	Rohan Ince
17	Jim Kellermann ('90)
14	Rhys Browne ('90)
8	James Daly
23	Jermaine Anderson
10	Padraig Amond ('78)
BENCH
1	Ethan Wady
15	Charlie O'Connell ('78)
29	Jake Vokins ('90)
18	Jack Roles ('90)
11	Tyreke Johnson