Chesterfield 1-3 Woking
Vanarama National League
7th February 2023

Darren Sarll made two changes to the side defeated at Eastleigh on Saturday, with James Daly and Scott Cuthbert coming in for Jake Hessenthaler and Joe McNerney, who both took their places on the bench.

The Cards began the better side, with Daly setting the tempo early, a one-two with Padraig Amond saw the winger fire the ball across the face of goal. And it was the Irishman who would open the floodgates, with a long ball seeing Rhys Browne tee up his man, who slotted home calmly.

Just eight minutes in, James Daly rounded the keeper following more lax defending. He finished into the bottom corner to spark Woking jubilation, but Chesterfield disappointment as boos swirled around the ground.

The Spireites sought an immediate response, and dangerman Ryan Colclough curled a shot towards the corner, but Craig Ross tipped the ball over superbly.

Another sharp save from Ross prevented Armando Dobra’s curler from flying in with twenty minutes on the clock, before Rohan Ince threw his body in front of the ball to prevent another strike flying towards goal.

Luke Wilkinson almost made it three when he had a free header from a Josh Casey corner, but Lucas Covolan managed to tip the goalbound effort over the bar.

The Cards were in dreamland when Covolan lost his footing, the ball was given away to Daly, whose pinpoint cross found Jim Kellermann. The former Spireite’s bullet header was perfect, and the Cards led 3-0. Predictably, the home fans grew even more restless and those frustrations were taken out on Daly by Ollie Banks, who earned himself a yellow card.

Half time swiftly followed, a half that Woking fans could never have dreamt of when arriving at the ground. The Cards’ press caused nightmares for the Chesterfield defence all half.

Half-time: Chesterfield 0-3 Woking

The Spireites began the half well, and just four minutes into it, a sumptuous strike from Liam Mandeville into the top corner on the half volley pulled a goal back and gave the Spireites hope.

Chesterfield continued to push forward after this, with several crosses having to be well defended by the Cards backline as well as Craig Ross being forced into action.

However, Woking, and in particular Daly, were still giving the opposition defence problems with Covolan having to parry away a couple of the impressive winger’s shots.

Ince had to make another intervention with ten minutes to go, as substitute Jes Uchegbulam’s cross came off his knee and just about crept over the crossbar.

However, the Cards managed to see the game out safely, despite nine minutes of injury time.

This was a real statement for Woking, not only because of the dominance against a fellow contender, but also because it was a more than apt response to the disappointment of Eastleigh on Saturday. Next up for Sarll’s men is a tricky home fixture against an in form Boreham Wood side.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 James Daly, 10 Padraig Amond, 12 Dan Moss, 14 Rhys Browne (2 Lofthouse 59’), 17 Jim Kellermann (15 O’Connell 79’), 23 Jermaine Anderson (19 Hessenthaler 13’), 24 Rohan Ince.

Unused subs: Joe McNerney, Marcus Dackers

Goals: Amond 5’, Daly 7’, Kellermann 34’

Bookings: Daly 14’, O’Connell 89’

Chesterfield: Lucas Covolan, Branden Horton, Jamie Grimes, Liam Mandeville, Ryan Colclough (Uchegbulam 67’), Armando Dobra, Jeff King (Sheckleford 81’), Ashley Palmer, Darren Oldaker (Akinola 67), Joe Quigley, Ollie Banks

Unused subs: Laurence Maguire, Mike Jones

Goals: Mandeville 49’

Bookings: Banks 36’, Uchegbulam 87’

Referee: Lewis Smith

Attendance: 5499 (121 Woking)

Man of the Match: James Daly put in a simply mesmerising performance, recording a goal and an assist, giving the Chesterfield defence nightmares with his pressing and work rate.