Match Report | Cards dig in for crucial three points against tenacious Heed

Woking 2-1 Gateshead
Vanarama National League
22nd April 2023

Darren Sarll made one change to the side defeated at Notts County, with Solomon Nwabuokei replacing Kyran Lofthouse, but there was a welcome return to the bench for both Charlie Wakefield and Luke Wilkinson.

Just three minutes into the game, a Josh Casey corner flew past Filip Marschall’s misjudged superman dive, with Rhys Browne on hand to head home into an empty net, a horrible mistake from the Heed keeper, but a super start for the Cards.

With just over ten minutes on the clock, good Woking play saw Padraig Amond’s scuffed shot fall to Solomon Nwabuokei, who was taken out by Lirak Hasani, penalty to the Cards. Browne stepped up and put behind his penalty woes, slotting down the middle, past Marschall’s dive to give Woking a two-goal lead.

A superb Woking breakaway then almost led to a third, after Browne found Jim Kellermann, whose arrowed shot was just wide of the bottom corner, as the Cards were displaying some real confidence in their passing game. Browne should have wrapped up the match ball when a superb cross from Amond met him at the back post, but the man with 20 goals to his name couldn’t keep his header down.

After stealing the ball from the Heed defence, Browne drove into the box, but a good save by Marschall denied him once again.

Half time arrived with the Cards in a commanding position, with several players looking confident and creating chances, a good sign with the playoffs looming.

Half-time: Woking 2-0 Gateshead

After 15 minutes of dominance from the Cards, Gateshead got a goal back when Stephen Wearne’s cut back found Adam Campbell, and his deflected shot crept into the net.
Amond forced a save from Marschall after a low cross from Dan Moss wasn’t dealt with, before James Daly fired over after good work from Nwabuokei.

A head injury to Daly meant he had to come off, however, with Woking having used all three substitutions, it meant the Cards would have to play the last ten minutes plus injury time with ten men.

A big chance for Owen Bailey at the back post drew a huge save from Will Jaaskelainen before the follow up was blazed over, as the game went into five minutes of injury time. Another huge save from Jaaskelainen to deny Bailey saw nerves around the Laithwaite go up a few notches.

But the Cards held on, and with Chesterfield losing, are once again in control of that third place finish, and a home semi final, but only if they can beat Halifax at the Laithwaite on Tuesday night.



Woking: 22 Will Jaaskelainen, 12 Dan Moss, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 18 Kacper Lopata (5 McNerney 73’) , 8 James Daly, 10 Padraig Amond, 14 Rhys Browne (21 Wakefield 64’), 16 Solomon Nwabuokei, 17 Jim Kellermann (15 O’Connell 45’), 24 Rohan Ince

Unused subs: Marcus Dackers, Luke Wilkinson

Goals: Rhys Browne 3’, 12’

Bookings: Kellermann 44’


Gateshead: Filip Marschall, Owen Bailey, Louis Storey, Ethan Pye, Ed Francis, Callum Whelan, Lirak Hasani, Stephen Wearne, Greg Olley, Adam Campbell (Conteh 84’), Marcus Dinanga (Harris 84’)

Unused subs: Montgomery, Tinkler, Ward

Goals: Campbell 64’

Bookings: Storey 31’

Referee: Dean Watson
Attendance: 3519
Man of the Match:. Scott Cuthbert put in a typical performance, judging his defensive work to perfection.