WOODMAN WITH THE WINNER | Wealdstone 1-0 Woking | Report

Wealdstone produced a superb performance to beat Neal Ardley’s Woking 1-0 at Grosvenor Vale. 

A second-half goal from Deon Woodman enabled the Stones to secure their first win in the league since 8^thNovember last year.

Sam Cox made one change to the side that knocked Dagenham & Redbridge out of the FA Trophy last week, with skipper Jack Cook replacing the injured Dan Cox.

The Cards started the match brightly, generating a chance in just the third minute, when Josh Osude’s strike flew narrowly wide.

Four minutes later, Woking had another sight at goal when Harry Beautyman struck from the edge of the box, but Dante Baptiste reacted with a smart save.

The Stones found rhythm and were tantalisingly close to taking the lead in the 12^th minute when Nathan Tshikuna whipped in a dangerous corner which Tunji Akinola had to clear off of the line.

Wealdstone continued in the ascendancy and nearly scored a moment later as Dylan Kadji floated a cross towards Olufela Olomola whose header looped just over the crossbar.

In the 38^th minute, the Stones won a free-kick in a dangerous position, with Tshikuna firing a powerful strike narrowly wide of the near post.

One minute before the stroke of half-time, Ardley’s side looked like they were going to break the deadlock when the ball was pulled back to Olly Sanderson, but his shot was deflected just wide.

After a goalless first-half, the Stones were quick out of the traps, testing the Cards’ shot-stopper within a minute of the restart, as Anthony Georgiou drilled a teasing ball goal-bound that had to be punched to safety.

Cox’s men upped the tempo further, and in the 50^th minute, Olomola drove forward into the box and curled an effort just wide of the far post.

As the second-half progressed, the Stones continued to press for a breakthrough and the lively Georgiou was nearly fruitful in the 58^th minute when he accelerated forward and drilled a shot just wide.

Wealdstone looked like they had forged ahead in the 64^th minute as Tshikuna found Olomola, who swivelled and struck a venomous strike that thundered off of the crossbar.

Wealdstone deservedly took the lead a minute later as Woodman met Georgiou’s inswinging corner with a towering header that flew past Jaaskelainen into the top corner.

Bolstered by the goal, the Stones nearly doubled their advantage three minutes later when Tshikuna slalomed down the left wing and squared to Micah Obiero, whose effort was blocked for a corner.

Wealdstone rallied for a second goal and Baptiste’s long direct ball through to Obiero was dragged wide of the target.

In the third minute of stoppage time, the visitors were close to rescuing a point at the death when substitute Jack Turner headed Timmy Akinola’s cross on target, but Baptiste reacted with a smart save.

Wealdstone return to action on Wednesday evening when they entertain Tamworth at Grosvenor Vale in a 7:45pm kick-off. Click HERE to buy tickets!

Wealdstone: Baptiste, Cook (Boldewijn 71), Woodman, McAvoy, Hutchinson, Mussa (Spencer 79), Kadji, Georgiou, Obiero, Olomola (Adarkwa 79), Tshikuna (Dixon-Bonner 71).

Subs not used: Johnson, Hassan, Tiensia.