REPORT | Wealdstone 1-0 Woking
Updated: Dec 28, 2023
Photo: Darren Campbell
The Stones got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win over play off chasing Woking under the lights on Tuesday night.
There were a few changes to the line-up following Saturday’s defeat at Chesterfield, with Charlie Barker unavailable due to suspension, Nathan Ferguson and Corie Andrews were named on the bench. They were replaced by Barrett, Adarkwa and Abdulmalik.
Woking is a familiar club for a few, with Cook, Allarakhia and Kretzschmar having spells at the Surrey club. Not only was Cook playing against his former club, it was also the skipper's 100th appearance for the Stones.
Wealdstone’s first chance didn’t take long to come about, when Cook’s shot in the first minute was denied by Woking keeper, Jaaskelainen.
It only took the Stones a quarter of an hour to find an opener following a throw-in which wasn’t cleared and reached Bowen to find the back of the net. Bowen remained on fire when his shot a few minutes later was hit just above the crossbar.
Our attack didn’t stop there, when Abdulmalik’s shot from a corner skimmed the sidebar.
Woking then got forwards on the counterattack, but was denied by a crucial Ward save following a long shot by Kellerman which was entering the bottom left corner.
Abdulmalik received high praise from the home fans when he weaved his way through Woking’s defence to slot Clayden in who had a shot but it went out for a corner.
The Stones started the second half well when Abdulmalik’s rocket of a shot from outside the box was saved by Woking’s ‘keeper.
Two massive saves were made by Ward in the space of thirty seconds to deny Woking an equaliser ten minutes into the second half. Akinola’s effort was saved before Pavey’s low shot was also caught by the ‘keeper.
Clayden’s great work to get the ball off of the opposition resulted in him smashing the ball forwards to Smith who crossed in Andrews who’s header was mistimed.
The last major chances of the game both came within a minute from Andrews who was firstly denied by the offside flag, and then his one on one shot with the keeper was palmed away.
The Stones face former Premier League club Oldham Athletic at home on Saturday at 3pm, tickets available in advance HERE.
Wealdstone: Jed Ward, Jack Cook, Ashley Charles (Dyer 83’), Mason Barrett, Micah Obiero, Kyle Smith, Charles Clayden, Abdul Abdulmalik (Olomola 54’), Sam Bowen, Jaydn Mundle-Smith, Sean Adarkwa (Andrews 63’)
Unused subs: Allarakhia, Ferguson
Goals: Bowen 17’
Bookings: Barrett 21’, Smith 84’
Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Timi Odusina, Scott Cuthbert (Willmott 67’), Padraig Amond, Greg Taylor, Tunji Akinola, Alfie Pavey (Dickson-Peters 74’), Jim Kellermann (Robinson 67’), Zak Bradshaw.
Unused subs: Andre, Wilkinson
Attendance: 1,310
Man of the Match: Sam Bowen
Match Report: Libby McElhinney