Match Report | Cards share eight goals with Saints

Woking 4-4 Southampton U21s
National League Cup
5th November 2024

Woking’s second National League Cup group game saw them host Southampton U21s under the Laithwaite lights. There was a first start for Jack Stretton, as he along with a host of players came into a much changed team, with academy prospect Leo Christophers making the bench. Alan Judge also made the bench after his return to the club.

Only Dion Kelly-Evans kept his place from the side beaten by Cambridge on Saturday.

Barely two minutes into the game, there was a goal for the visitors. A cross from the left-hand side was met by Prinewill Ehibhatiomham, with his initial shot saved by Ollie Webber, but the Cards couldn’t clear and he tapped in at the second time of asking.

In an opening ten minutes where both sides were yet to find defensive stability, one simple ball found Tom Leahy in behind, and he controlled well before his low shot was well gathered by Adli Mohamed in the Saints goal.

Woking then began to pile the pressure on, with Stretton’s deflected strike hitting the bar, before the same player then was unable to fire home following a scramble. Another set piece led to Leahy being denied at the back post by Mohamed.

However, the Saints had their second goal after just over half an hour when Samuel Tabares found Jay Robinson, who controlled and finished well into the bottom corner.

Woking had one back and in some style after 39 minutes when an inch-perfect ping from Cian Harries was controlled well and slammed into the bottom corner by Stretton for his first goal in red and white, and a route back into the game.

They had their equaliser just a minute later when Ben Wynter’s ball across was sliced by a defender and Leahy picked up the pieces to tap home from close range.


Half-time: Woking 2-2 Southampton U21s

Woking nearly made a fast start to the second half when Gorman’s delivery was met by the head of Wynter whose effort clipped the crossbar. However, when Walker stole in behind the defence and rounded the keeper, his finish was rather emphatic, hitting the underside of the bar and going in to complete the turnaround.

There was another for Walker and Woking after just over an hour when a superb low delivery from Ward was met by a thumping half volley from Walker, giving Mohamed no chance and giving the Cards a two-goal cushion.

Another dangerous free-kick fell to Stretton whose shot was well blocked in what would be the last action for him in his first start, an impressive and promising performance from the 23-year-old.

Leahy forced a low save from Mohamed after 77 minutes when he found himself in behind the defence, before Walker was denied brilliantly by the Saints ‘keeper from point-blank range five minutes later.

However, Southampton had a third goal with five minutes left when substitute Rory MacLoud scored the rebound after an initial shot was well saved by Webber. He had to be on hand to deny Robinson after he was found inside the box with a minute left, as the Saints looked for an equaliser.

And they had it after 94 minutes when Woking failed to clear and Romeo Akachukwu slammed home to send it to penalties. A remarkable finish to a bizarre game as Woking went from two down to 4-2 up and then had it pulled back to 4-4 with the last kick of the game.
Southampton missed their first three penalties, with Lewis Walker, Alan Judge and Cian Harries sealing an extra point for the Cards to conclude a goalfest at the Laithwaite.


Woking: Webber, Kelly-Evans, Harries, Ward, Wynter, Anderson (Christophers 81’), Gorman (Judge 58’), Conte, Stretton (Akinola 68’), Leahy, Walker

Subs: Jaaskelainen, Dyche, Moore, Jones

Goals: Stretton 39’, Leahy 41’, Walker 53’, 61’

Bookings: Anderson 39’, Harries 45’

Southampton U21s: Mohamed, Abu, Tavares, Moore, Armitage, Buck, Charles (Merry 61’), O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Fry 70’), Ehibhatiomhan (MacLoud 81’), Akachukwu, Robinson

Subs: McNamara, Hewlett, Meyers, Oyekunie

Goals: Ehibhatiomhan 2’, Robinson 35’, MacLoud 85’, Akachukwu 94’

Attendance: 157

Man of the Match: Lewis Walker scored two well-taken goals to cap off a good performance.