Match Report | Winning in the rain! Cards defeat Magpies to kick off New Year

Woking 3-1 Maidenhead United
Vanarama National League
1st January 2025

Woking kicked off 2025 with the visit of Maidenhead United. Neal Ardley decided to make no tweaks to his starting lineup for the third time in a row, with the only change coming on the bench as Tom Leahy replaced Jack Stretton, who was recalled by his parent club Stockport County.

Alan Devonshire’s side lined up with former Card and fan favourite Craig Ross in goal and also wearing the captain’s armband, with ex Woking midfielder Kane Ferdinand sidelined with an injury.

Just four minutes into the game, Woking took the lead. A superb pass from Harry Beautyman completely split the defence open, and Frank Vincent after scuffing his initial touch managed to lay the ball off to Inih Effiong. He made it two in two home games by slotting the ball into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Maidenhead defenders on the line.

On the ten minute mark, the Magpies came ever so close to an equalising goal. A corner caused problems and the follow up effort from close range pinged off the crossbar and bounced away.

Reece Smith was looking dangerous down the left-hand side, with his low cross destined for Shawn McCoulsky before Will Jaaskelainen intervened. Minutes later, Smith was denied well by Jaaskelainen from inside the area as Maidenhead ramped up the pressure.

Fantastic football from the Cards saw Jermaine Anderson win the ball and counter, with Matt Ward’s cross just being taken away from Harry Beautyman by Kevin Lokko, who sent the ball over his own bar.

Maidenhead levelled up the contest after 39 minutes when Cian Harries’ clearance fell to Tristan Abrahams, who casually rolled the ball into the bottom corner, giving Jaaskelainen no chance.

Smith continued to cause problems, with his run into the box and shot needing to be tipped over by Jaaskelainen. His shot right at the end of the first half took a nick off Dale Gorman and hit the top of the crossbar, with the Magpies purring ahead of the break.

Work to do for the Cards to restore their stronghold, with Maidenhead certainly the better side for most of the half.

Half-time: Woking 1-1 Maidenhead United

Maidenhead nearly began the second half in similar fashion to how they ended the first, with McCoulsky picking out Abrahams inside the box, but there was Jaaskelainen to mop up the danger.

Woking had their first shot of the half just after the hour mark when Frank Vincent drove with the ball, sat down a Maidenhead defender but fired his shot high over the bar from range. Dion Kelly-Evans then crossed for Ward, whose header from quite a way out caught Ross off guard, but he was able to parry the ball away.

The Cards then had a penalty when Harry Beautyman broke away from Miles Welch-Hayes, who dragged him down despite Ross nearly having control of the ball. He was also shown his marching orders, and Beautyman stepped up himself to dispatch the ball past the dive of Ross and into the bottom corner, his second successful spot kick in two games.

Maidenhead nearly responded immediately when a header crept just wide of the far post, with referee Aaron Farmer deeming that there was a Woking touch. They then felt they had a strong shout for a penalty when Will De Havilland appeared to be fouled by a defender in red and white, but he was booked for his appeals to Farmer as tensions continued to rise.

A fantastic goal line clearance from Kelly-Evans prevented yet another Maidenhead attempt from a set piece going in as they continued to give it a real go despite the man advantage for the Cards, before Gorman tried a speculative effort from distance that bounced into Ross’s arms.
Woking sealed three points with a lovely goal late on. Chicksen was picked out in acres of space down the side vacated by Welch-Hayes, squaring the ball for Effiong, who kneed home to seal the points and send the Cards’ fans home happy. Two shots in the game, two goals for Effiong to make it three in three games, and three in two home games.

There was a nice moment for Rohan Ince making his return to action in stoppage time, with smiles all round after a fairly even game until the red card went in favour of the Cards.

Seven points from three games for Neal Ardley so far, who will hope to add trophy progression to the list with a home tie against Radcliffe on Saturday.






Woking: Jaaskelainen, Kelly-Evans, Harries, Akinola, Chicksen, Beautyman, Gorman, Vincent (Andrews 84’), Anderson (Walker 95’), Ward, Effiong (Ince 95’)

Subs: Webber, Conte, Lewis, Leahy

Goals: Effiong 4’, 93’, Beautyman 66’

Bookings: Chicksen 88’, Jaaskelainen 92’

Maidenhead United:Ross, Dyce (Barratt 87’), De Havilland, Lokko, Ferguson, McCoulsky, Pettit (Keetch 87’), Smith, Cochrane, Welch-Hayes, Abrahams

Subs: Collins, Bell, Coyne, Onarise, Ajose

Goals: Abrahams 39’

Bookings: De Havilland 69’

Sent Off: Welch-Hayes 65’

Attendance: 1848

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Will Jaaskelainen put in another solid display in tricky conditions.