Match Report | Cards controversially beaten by Dale late on

Rochdale 2-1 Woking
Vanarama National League
12th March 2024

Michael Doyle made two changes to the side victorious at Altrincham on the weekend, with both enforced through injury. Goalscorer Ricky Korboa and Manny Oyeleke made way for Dennon Lewis and Rohan Ince, with the bench staying the same as it was at Alty.

Woking kicked the game off towards the Pearl Street End housing the travelling contingent, and made a quick start. A powerful strike from Jermaine Anderson from the edge of the box had to be parried away by Tiernan Brooks for a corner with just four minutes gone. Rochdale’s first attack ended with Cian Hayes’ shot flying just wide of the bottom corner, after the winger had sprinted down the right hand side and towards goal.

A superb ball towards the back post from Curtis Edwards was met by Josh Casey, but was met almost too well in the end, as the left back skied his strike over the bar. A big mistake from Ethan Ebanks-Landell after a quarter of an hour saw him caught on the edge of his own box by Charley Kendall, who smashed the ball past Brooks to give the Cards a deserved lead.

After 35 minutes, excellent play from Casey and Kendall saw the ball fall to Ince on the edge of the box, but his curling shot flew just wide of the far corner. But a simply sublime strike from Cian Hayes followed on 38 minutes. He had no right to drive down the wing before curling the ball into the far corner, giving Jaaskelainen no chance.

The sides went into the break level after Woking had looked relatively comfortable at 1-0 up. But Hayes’ goal appeared to give Dale a lift towards the end of the half.

Half-time: Rochdale 1-1 Woking

It took until the 64th minute for any notable second half action, when Kendall and Anderson linked up well, with the latter blazing over the bar. Then came a contentious decision when a full blooded tackle from Kelly-Evans on Hayes after 68 minutes led to the winger staying down, and the referee decided it was worth a sending off.

After Alfie Pavey’s perfectly timed challenge led to a free kick for Dale, another one followed after a similar challenge. Devante Rodney blasted the ball past Jaaskelainen to give the home side the lead in the 88th minute. Ian Henderson was sent off for an altercation following the goal.

Woking had the ball in the net with 93 gone, but the late flag gave Rochdale some relief, causing more controversy. Full time followed after a brief interruption from a pitch invader, with the Cards unfortunate to take nothing from the game. Next up, the visit of Barnet on Saturday.


Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Timi Odusina, Jermaine Anderson (Osew 88’), Rohan Ince (Smith 93’), Scott Cuthbert, Dennon Lewis (Pavey 61’), Curtis Edwards, Charley Kendall, Dion Kelly-Evans

Unused subs: Wilkinson, Osew, Smith, Berkoe

Bookings: Odusina 58’, Casey 72’, Pavey 87’

Sent off: Kelly-Evans 66’

Goals: Kendall 15’

Rochdale: Tiernan Brooks, Kyron Gordon, Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Kairo Mitchell, Devante Rodney (Keohane90’) , George Nevett, Cian Hayes (Sassi 90’), Harvey Gilmour, Finlay Armstrong, Sam Mather (Henderson 72’)

Unused subs: Clayton, Uchegbulam, Keohane, Sassi

Bookings: Gilmour 78’

Sent off: Henderson 88’

Goals: Hayes 38’, Rodney 88’