Match Report | Cards defeated by resilient Spitfires

Woking 0-1 Eastleigh
Vanarama National League
29th March 2024

Michael Doyle made one change from the side who secured a point at Southend. Jermaine Anderson missed out, with Alan Judge in for his full debut. There were also welcome returns to the bench for Reece Grego-Cox and Ricky Korboa.

Elsewhere, the visitors had two former Cards in their lineup. Jake Vokins, signed on loan from Southampton this morning and Solomon Nwabuokei both starting for the Spitfires.

Woking kicked off towards the KRE, but it was Eastleigh with the first half chance of the game. Four minutes in, a long throw was punched by Will Jaaskelainen, but Jake Taylor couldn’t keep his volley down.

After a glimpse of Jayden Luker’s footwork with eight minutes gone, firing his shot straight at Joe McDonnell, Curtis Edwards forced a full stretch save from the Eastleigh keeper, tipping the ball over the bar after a sweet strike from the midfielder.

Kevin Berkoe was having a field day against young Oscar Rutherford, and superb play between him and Judge saw the latter force McDonnell into action, before saves from Judge again and Pavey kept the Eastleigh keeper busy.

Berkoe danced past Rutherford again, appearing to be fouled by the defender, but the referee waved the appeals away.

But a sucker punch from Eastleigh came when former Card Solomon Nwabuokei headed in at the near post following a good inswinging corner after 28 minutes.

On the stroke of half time, Dan Moss hit the bar after a superb delivery from Judge but the Cards went into the break a goal behind.


Half-time: Woking 0-1 Eastleigh

After a quiet 15 minutes, Chris Maguire nearly caught out Jaaskelainen from the halfway line, but luckily for the Finn, the ball sailed just over his crossbar.

Berkoe’s run and cross saw Edwards side foot a volley towards goal, unfortunately for Woking, it was straight at McDonnell.

Despite throwing everything at the Spitfires, they held on to claim three vital points in their own survival push. As for the Cards, it’s onto Bromley away on Good Friday.


Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Kevin Berkoe, Timi Odusina (Delap 36’), Alan Judge, Luke Wilkinson, Scott Cuthbert, Alfie Pavey (Korboa 64’), Curtis Edwards, Charley Kendall (Grego-Cox 76’), Jayden Luker

Unused subs: Casey, Ince, RGC

Eastleigh: Joe McDonnell, Ludwig Francilette, Jake Taylor (Atangana 88’), Paul McCallum, George Langston, Lee Hodson, Luke Croll, Solomon Nwabuokei, Chris Maguire (Boldewijn 64’), Oscar Rutherford (Quigley 64’), Jake Vokins

Unused subs: Reeves, Merry

Bookings: Francilette 83’, McDonnell 84’

Goals: Nwabuokei 28’

Attendance: 3285

Man of the Match: Dan Moss