Women's Report | Cards share points with top of the league

Woking Women 1-1 AFC Stoneham Ladies
29th October 2023
SRWFL Division One South

A Helen Ogle goal and penalty miss was the story of the game at the Eastwood Centre, as the Cards managed to take a point against top-of-the-league AFC Stoneham. A fiery game, with moments for both sides, ended with each team taking a point away from the match.

The game got underway with both teams not really getting an early foothold of the possession, until Stoneham’s number nine took matters into her own hands, with a brilliant solo run from the left-hand side, before cutting in and hammering the ball past Amy Jenkins in goal. A goal that came out of nowhere.

Efrosyni Theocharous came close to levelling the scores up shortly after with a brilliant shot from afar, but the ball went just over the bar.

The game somewhat died out for the next 20 minutes with nothing of note happening for either side, but the remaining 15 was when the action finally got going. Firstly, Sheena Nichol had a shot from outside the box and was unlucky to see her deflected effort only just be saved by the opposition goalkeeper.

Then just under five minutes later, a fantastic goal-line clearance from Bianca Underhill stopped an almost guaranteed Stoneham second, as the defender was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball away.

Kaitlin Howard and Helen then had half-chances of their own, before the referee called time on the first 45 minutes.

HT: Woking 0-1 AFC Stoneham

During the break, Anthony Rosenberg-Murray made three substitutions, as Alicia Christie, Sian Hardaker and Megan Vincer all replaced Efrosyni, Bianca and Gracie Price.

Shortly into the second half, the hosts were desperately unlucky not to be level, after Sheena tried to loop the ‘keeper from outside the box, but watched her effort hit the crossbar and bounce back out.

The action was all in favour of Woking though and they were back on level terms after a great run from Charlotte Keenan down the right-hand side allowed her to find Helen at the back post, who fired home into the top corner, beating the outstretched goalkeeper.

The second half became very much a game of big individual moments and no more so than when Sophie Burgess made an incredible last-ditch sliding challenge, to deny the visitors with a one versus one against Amy in goal.

The hero from the last game was then next up to make her mark on this one, as Amy made a crucial save to tip the ball past the post from a quick counter-attack.

With tensions up in the air over little off-the-ball moments from both sides, it was fair to say that one big moment could have brought it all tumbling down and the Cards had that opportunity when they were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of injury time, for a handball in the area. Helen stepped up but saw her effort saved and cleared before the referee had seen enough and blew for full-time.

FT: Woking 1-1 AFC Stoneham

It would be easy to base the game around the final kick but the bigger outcome is that Woking are on the rise in the division and have lots to be proud of since their 0-7 win over Selsey Development. It’s clear that the team have found their style and is putting it into effect week after week. They’ll have enough chance to get back to winning ways next Sunday when they host Fleet Town Ladies back at the Eastwood Centre.



Woking Starting XI: Jenkins, Burgess, Cotter, Mitchell, Underhill (46), Ogle, Nichol (75), Price (46), Theocharous (46) (75), Howard, Keenan

Subs: Christie (46), Hardaker (46), Vincer (46)

Attendance: 35

Player of the Match: Alicia Christie