Match Report | Cards and Spitfires share the points

Woking 2-2 Eastleigh
Vanarama National League
26th April 2025

A Woking side decimated by injuries and illness hosted Eastleigh at the Laithwaite for their last home game of the season, with starts for Ollie Webber and Jacob Jones key standouts, with the Cards only able to name four subs.

A fast paced start saw the Spitfires try to make their mark when Tyrese Shade was released in on goal, but an excellent recovery challenge from Matt Ward ended the danger.

Eastleigh had the lead when a seemingly long free kick from Ben Close was disguised beautifully as a through ball, and Tyrese Shade slotted past Ollie Webber to give the Spitfires the lead after just under a quarter of an hour.

A flurry of Woking chances with 40 minutes gone saw O’Brien and Ward have shots blocked, before Ashford fired over from close range. O’Brien would level the match up minutes later though, when he headed home a perfect delivery from the left foot of Jacob Jones into the bottom corner.

Woking ended the first half strongly, with Hinds and O’Brien linking up brilliantly before the former forced a save at Joe McDonnell’s near post.


Half-time: Woking 1-1 Eastleigh

The visitors nearly retook the lead three minutes into the second half when Shade found Chris Maguire, but his effort was beaten away by Webber.

Eastleigh would make it two on the hour mark when a fantastic run from Shade was finished off in style. He nailed a strike into the top left corner, giving Webber no chance.

Tariq Hinds tried to lift the Cards with just over ten minutes left when he drove forwards and unleashed a low shot just past the post. They would find their second equaliser of the game with four minutes of normal time left when a fantastic free kick from Jamie Andrews beat McDonnell and soared into the top corner.

Woking would have one more chance in injury time but a good low save from McDonnell denied Ashford, and the points were shared.

A respectable way to bow out of home action for another season, with just the trip to Sutton left for Ardley’s side.

Woking:Webber, Moss, Akinola, Okoli, Jones (Lawson 81’), Hinds, Andrews, O’Brien (Vincent 72’), Ward (Osude 61’), Ashford, Walker.

Subs:, Sayers

Goals: O’Brien 42’, Andrews 86’

Bookings: Ward 54’, Lawson 93’

Eastleigh: McDonnell; Brindley, Panter, Francilette, Fernandez (Semenyo 45’), Vokins; Close (Humphries 95’), Waruih; Maguire; Shade, McCallum (Tshikuna 45’).

Subs: Scott,, Hudson, Nwabuokei, Semenyo, Underhill, Tshikuna

Goals: Shade 14’, 60’

Bookings: Maguire 94’

Attendance: 2711

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Lewis Walker was chosen for his application in an unfamiliar role.