Notts County 3-0 Woking – Second half collapse for Woking in Nottingham

(As seen in Woking News & Mail - 20/04/2023)

Three second-half goals from Notts County sunk Woking to defeat live on BT Sport last Saturday and consequently moved them down to fourth place in the Vanarama National League standings.

Sam Austin was the man with the golden touch on a cloudy evening at Meadow Lane, as his two goals and assist helped his side close the gap to Wrexham for the title. In the battle for the semi-final playoff spot, Woking lost ground to Chesterfield after their late comeback at home to Eastleigh.

The Cards went into the late kick-off with playoffs already confirmed but a tough task of holding onto third spot. Their opposition had accumulated 100 points and scored well over 100 goals this season, mainly thanks to the prolific Macaulay Langstaff breaking the league goalscoring record. The Magpies were looking to close the gap on first to just one point, which they ended up doing.

On the game, Woking manager Darren Sarll said, “I thought we played very well first half, but big problems came in the second half. Once we won the ball back, we gave it away far too early and quickly so that means that this team [Notts County], who every time they pass they always seem to have an extra player, get on top of you.”

Woking rode the wave really well in the first half and came out on top as the better side. Kyran Lofthouse forced a fingertip save from Sam Slocombe as well as Kacper Lopata heading just wide from a corner. County had their chances too through the likes of Austin and Langstaff but Will Jaaskelainen made no mistake each time to deny the hosts. Rohan Ince conducted the midfield well and never lost an individual duel.

Going into half time Darren Sarll said, “Our shape was excellent and we pressed really well but I just wanted us to slow down a little bit in the final third because I thought we made too many rash decisions, when we could have had slowed it down more and brought more players into the game.”

In the second half though, Woking was picked apart and found themselves a goal down, just before the hour mark, when Austin converted a cross from Matt Palmer who found him in the box with time and space to fire past Jaaskelainen. Dan Moss had the Surrey outfit’s best chance when he found himself one on one with the ‘keeper but couldn’t convert his finish. Notts’ second and third then followed within a five-minute period of each other. Firstly, a teasing ball from Sam Austin avoided all the Woking defenders and substitute Aaron Nemane tapped in past Jaaskelainen, then secondly, a brilliant through ball from Cedwyn Scott found Sam Austin again, who slotted home.

Sarll’s overall assessment of the defeat was fair stating, “We were really poor in that second 45 minutes and when you give the ball away to any team in any league who are good at holding onto the ball, then you’re never giving yourself the chance to get higher up the pitch.

After the second goal, I knew it was going to be really tough for us and I was just hoping that some key players didn’t get injured and then risk losing them for long.”

On the 436 away supporters who made the trip, he said, “They are amazing and have been fantastic all season. We have a duty and a responsibility to come out all guns blazing in our next home game for them.”

Notts County Starting XI: Slocombe, Cameron, Baldwin, Rawlinson, Chicksen, Jones (68), Bostock, Palmer, Austin, Rodrigues (73), Langstaff (73)

Subs: Nemane (68), Vincent, O’Brien, Scott (73), Morias (73)

Woking Starting XI: Jaaskelainen, Lofthouse, Casey, Cuthbert (87), Daly, Amond, Moss (63), Browne, Kellermann (73), Lopata, Ince

Subs: Ross, McNerney (87), O’Connell (63), Dackers (73), Sass-Davies

Match Facts

Vanarama National League

Saturday 15th April 2023

At Meadow Lane

Attendance: 8,520 (436 away)

Match rating: ***

Team ratings:

Woking **

Notts County ****

MOTM: Kacper Lopata

Pitch: Brilliant

Weather: Cloudy/Dry

Referee: Scott Jackson