Match Report | Cards well beaten by Moors
William Bewsey
4:56pm, Sat 6th Jan 2024
Solihull Moors 3-0 Woking
Vanarama National League
6th January 2024
Woking made their first away trip of 2024 to a Solihull side sitting fourth in the table. Michael Doyle made four changes to the side beaten by Aldershot on New Year’s Day, as Sam Habergham returned to the side in place of Josh Casey, who took a place on the bench alongside Dennon Lewis, replaced by Tunji Akinola. The two other changes were Zak Bradshaw for the injured Manny Oyeleke and a return from injury for Jim Kellermann in place of Rohan Ince.
Woking kicked off the match towards the Jerroms Stand, and just a minute in, a Habergham corner was met on the volley by Padraig Amond, his side footed effort just clipping the post before going behind. This was shortly followed by only an excellent block from Kyle Morrison denying Rhys Browne a chance to test the ‘keeper after good build up play, a strong start from the Cards.
With Moors growing into the game, a through ball on the half hour mark found Josh Kelly, but before he could finish, Scott Cuthbert put in a superb recovery challenge to force the ball behind. A minute later, intricate play down the left-hand side saw James Clarke’s shot well blocked by Luke Wilkinson as Solihull looked to force an opening.
On 42 minutes, they had that opening. A corner from Jamey Osborne was met by the head of Clarke, who glanced into the far corner of the net. This meant that despite there being not much between the sides, Woking trailed at the break.
Half-time: Solihull Moors 1-0 Woking /b>
It took just two minutes for the Moors to double their lead after half time. A long throw was only half cleared and Callum Maycock finished into the bottom corner from just inside the box through a sea of bodies.
A minute later, they almost made it three. A ball in behind was met by Kelly, who drove towards goal but Alexis Andre made a good save with his feet to stop the ball nestling into the bottom corner. Michael Doyle responded by taking off Wilkinson, Kellermann and Osew for Dennon Lewis, Reece Grego-Cox and Timi Odusina, and Grego-Cox looked lively from the off, firing just over the bar after good play inside the box.
Another Grego-Cox shot from a Habergham corner on 58 minutes forced Nick Hayes into his first save of the game to deny the striker, before a big chance on 64 minutes saw Dan Moss’s low ball diverted towards goal by Amond, but a good goalline clearance from Clarke kept the Moors’ two goal cushion intact.
A big appeal for a Woking penalty was turned down by referee Abigail Byrne when Moss looked to be upended as he drove into the box, but Moors would make sure of the points on 75 minutes. An effort inside the box from Osborne was brilliantly saved by Andre Jr, but the Cards failed to clear, and Mark Beck fired low into the bottom corner via the post.
A good Woking break on 79 minutes saw Browne force a good low save from Hayes at his near post, but that was to be it as far as Woking's chances went. A first half with few chances was edged by the Moors, and the second half went completely in their favour. Michael Doyle will have a lot to think about before the Cards take on Gateshead at the Laithwaite in ten days time.
Woking: Alexis Andre Jr, Dan Moss, Sam Habergham, Scott Cuthbert, Luke Wilkinson (Odusina 51’), Zak Bradshaw, Paul Osew (Grego-Cox 52’), Jim Kellermann (Lewis 52’), Tunji Akinola, Padraig Amond, Rhys Browne
Unused subs: Casey, Anderson
Bookings: Kellermann 17’
Solihull Moors: Nick Hayes, James Clarke, Jamey Osborne, Kyle Morrison, Callum Maycock (Benn 74’) Mark Beck, Josh Kelly (Stevens 82’), Matty Warburton (Sbarra 67’), Jon Benton, Kade Craig, Alex Whitmore
Unused subs: Mafuta, Howell
Goals: Clarke 42’, Maycock 48’, Beck 75’
Bookings: Clarke 32’
Attendance: 1243
