Woking 0-1 FC Halifax Town – Woking throw away top three hopes

Woking threw away their hopes of a top three spot with a disappointing defeat at home to FC Halifax Town. Despite it mathematically still being possible, The Cardinals lost the chance to leapfrog Chesterfield going into the final day as a Rob Harker goal was enough for The Shaymen.

Woking came out the brighter side, just like they did last Saturday, as James Daly found himself racing through on goal down the left-hand side, but he dragged his shot just wide of the post.

The visitors took the lead though just past 20 minutes into the game when Tylor Golden took a shot on from the edge of the box which Will Jaaskelainen saved but only into the path of Harker who finished the rebound. This was his third goal in his last four outings.

The hosts had a chance to get level before half-time when a free kick in a crossing position was taken by Josh Casey, who played Rhys Browne in on the floor, but his eventual shot was well saved by Sam Johnson.

HT: 0-1

In the second half, Woking felt that they should have been awarded a penalty after Daly was hacked down on the goal line, but the referee Alan Dale waved it away causing a huge melee.

With around 15 minutes left to play, Casey floated a corner into the box which found Padraig Amond, but his header agonisingly hit the post and he was denied.

The Cards kept piling on the pressure and had another chance when Joe McNerney jumped highest to head towards goal, but Johnson produced a magnificent quick-fire save to deny him also.

With just five minutes of normal time remaining, FC Halifax made their second substitution of the game, replacing goal scorer Harker for Mani Dieseruvwe. Just a minute later, he was sent off after being shown a straight red card.

Ultimately, it didn’t change the course of the game as the visitors held out to take all three points back to Yorkshire.

FT: 0-1

The club has come so far this season, but you wouldn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that the squad’s peak levels are not where they once were. The Cards have not won back-to-back games since January and despite their league position, they won’t be favourites going into the playoffs.

However, the fact remains that this side has achieved greatness this season and can pull something out of the bag at any given time, especially with the right crowd backing them all the way. They will travel to Solihull on Saturday with the hope that already relegated and bottom side Maidstone United can pull off their first victory since November against Chesterfield, but in reality they look set to face seventh place in the first-round eliminator on Wednesday 3rd May. #COYCards

Woking Starting XI: Jaaskelainen, Casey, Cuthbert (73), McNerney, Daly, Amond, Moss (73), Browne, Nwabuokei, Kellermann, Ince (54)

Subs: Lofthouse (73), Wilkinson (73), O’Connell, Lopata, Dackers (54)

FC Halifax Starting XI: Johnson, Golden, Senior, Stott, Arthur, Cappello, Hunter, Gilmour, Alli (72), Warburton, Harker (85)

Subs: Dieseruvwe (85), Cooke (72), Wright, Scott

Attendance: 3,089

Man of the Match: James Daly