Woking stopped their long winless run against their rivals to take all three points on a brilliant Boxing Day! Rhys Browne’s first-half penalty and a late Corey Jordan own goal helped The Cards pick up their first win against Aldershot in the league since 2016 and first away win since 2015 respectively.
The Shots had the first chance in the game when a looping header from Jordan went narrowly over the bar.
The visitors were awarded a penalty when Padraig Amond was brought down in the box. Browne stepped up and sent Luca Ashby-Hammond the wrong way to put his side in front. That’s his 11th goal this season.
Aldershot tried to respond from a low free-kick out on the left-hand side but despite going through everybody, the ball wasn’t cleared and Justin Amaluzor’s cross was deflected into Craig Ross' hands.
Just before halftime, James Daly found some space and had a crack at goal, however his shot was fired into the side netting.
HT: 0-1
In the second half, a through ball from Frank Vincent gave Amaluzor plenty of time in the box, but his powerful cross was deflected behind for a corner. The resulting cross ended up with no danger to the visitors.
Former Shots player Jermaine Anderson had a chance after the hour, when he blasted a shot from distance which smashed against the post. It was oh so close.
In the final ten minutes though, Woking was gifted a second goal after Jimm Kellermann’s cross was deflected in off Jordan, to send the 1,041 travelling Woking supporters into euphoria! The celebrations were led by the experienced players, as this was also a massive weight lifted off their shoulders from previous seasons.
In the final few minutes of the game, Dan Moss was sent off for a second yellow card and gave away a penalty, which former Cards player Inih Effiong converted from 12 yards. This was not the start of a comeback though as Woking held out to take a famous victory on the road.
FT: 1-2
This result is an absolute delight for Darren Sarll’s men and everyone associated with the club. I can not tell you how long we’ve waited for this day and to finally put some mouths at rest.
On top of all the rivalry though, this has been a notoriously difficult place for us in previous years, so to get the win and increase our playoff gap to ten points, shows a lot of positivity going into the new year.
The town of Woking will be in party mode for a while, but full attention will soon turn to New Year’s Day, as the return fixture at Kingfield will see both teams going neck and neck in another huge game for the history books. #COYCards
Woking Starting XI: Ross, Moss, Cuthbert, McNerney, Casey, Kellermann (90), Ince, Anderson, Browne (90+3), Amond (78), Daly
Subs: Wady, Johnson, O’Connell (78), Roles (90), Vokins (90+3)
Aldershot Starting XI: Ashby-Hammond, Davies, Harfield, Partington, Cordner, Amaluzor, Vincent, Effiong, Jordan, Klass (59), Glover
Subs: Panayiotou (59), Elva-Fountaine, Shroll, Phillips, DE Lacy-Turner
Attendance: 4,621
Man of the Match: Jim Kellermann