Women's Report | Cards go eight games unbeaten

Woking finished the month of November unbeaten, in a run of games that now stretches to eight, as they came out on top in their final away game of 2023. A brace from Helen Ogle and then two solo strikes from Trudy Bryan-Kerr and Gaby Hobday helped the team to a 4-2 victory on a freezing evening in Surrey.

The game got off to a flyer as the Cards went a goal ahead in just the third minute of the game when a great solo run down the left-hand side from Helen was converted with a brilliant finish into the top right-hand corner. A trademark finish from the number seven, as she took her scoring tally to double figures.

The visitors had already got a hold of the game and nearly doubled their lead when Sheena Nichol found Helen with a great pass, but the eventual shot was saved before Trudy fired the rebound just over the bar.

However, with just ten minutes played, it was two thanks to a brilliant pass over the top from Gracie Price finding Trudy, who this time beat the ‘keeper with a powerful shot! She continued from where she left off last weekend against Welling with another goal. It’s not the first time Trudy has done this either, as she followed up her brace against Selsey Devs with an early goal against Epsom & Ewell the week after.

Rushmoor slowly but surely found their way into the game with a counter-attack for their first threat of the game, but Amy Jenkins did a great job in goal to stop any further threat. They did however pull a goal back just a minute later as a deflected shot agonisingly caught Amy wrong-footed and trundled into the back of the net.

Throughout the game, Woking had many corners, with their first from Laura Mitchell finding Sheena, but her shot towards goal was tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Then in the blink of an eye, the game was all square as Rushmoor equalised through an own goal. Their striker had been played through one versus one but saw her shot hit the post and roll across the goal line, but Laura’s attempted clearance hit Amy and ended up bouncing back into the net. Not the team's finest moment of the season.

This was Rushmoor’s only real spell of the entire game, but they could have potentially led at one point if it wasn’t for a great sliding challenge from Frances Cotter in the box, preventing the hosts with a chance on goal.

With it not taken, Woking re-took the lead just before the half-hour mark as a good pass from Gaby found Helen who scored her second of the afternoon with a fantastic finish into the bottom left-hand corner. The forward’s goal-per-game ratio is now a staggering 1.1.

Before half-time, the Cards had restored their two-goal lead as brilliant build-up play between Helen and Sheena allowed Gaby to run in behind the defence and take on an audacious attempt from the left, which flew over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net! This was her first goal of the season.

HT: Rushmoor Community 2-4 Woking

It turned out to be an all-action first half, with very little to report on the second half. Anthony Rosenberg-Murray made his two changes at the break, replacing Gracie and Gaby for Charlotte Keenan and Ella Smith. Unfortunately, Ella sustained an injury to her ankle and had to come off 15 minutes later, as she was swapped with Gaby.

The first major talking point of the second half wasn’t until the 72nd minute when Gaby played a beautiful ball in behind to Kaitlin Howard, but her shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.

The visitor's final substitution saw Gracie return to the pitch, replacing Efrosyni Theocharous.

Gaby had the game's final two chances, the first coming after managing to turn her defender but the eventual shot was caught by the ‘keeper, then finally Helen played a great ball to her, but the effort went just over the bar.

FT: Rushmoor Community 2-4 Woking

With a depleted squad due to injury, this result must not go under the radar as the team set out to do what they had intended beforehand and pick up all three points. It may not have been pretty at times, but it keeps the team in the top five and just five points off AFC Stoneham at the top of the table.

Next up is League Cup action for the first time this season, as the Cards welcome tier five leaders Ascot United to Woking College, for their first home game at the new ground this season.



Woking Starting XI: Jenkins, Howard ©, Cotter, Hardaker, Ogle, Nichol, Theocharous (75), Hobday (46) (63), Bryan-Kerr, Price (46) (75), Mitchell

Subs: Keenan (46), Smith (46) (63)

Attendance: 15

Player of the Match: Kaitlin Howard