Woking 2-1 Gateshead – Woking back to winning ways

Woking got back to winning ways thanks to a first-half brace from Rhys Browne. With results elsewhere going in their favour, the win puts them back in the driving seat for third place in the Vanarama National League.

The Cards got off to a brilliant start and found themselves in front, just three minutes into the game when Browne headed home from a corner. A great way to get going, on the back of last Saturday’s defeat in Nottingham.

Just under ten minutes later, it was two as Browne converted from the penalty spot after Solomon Nwabuokei was brought down in the box. This was Browne’s 20th goal of the season and his 13th for Woking.

The hosts were piling on the pressure and were nearly in again when a great counter-attack saw Browne finds Jim Kellermann in space on the right-hand side, but his driven effort went just wide.

It was the Rhys Browne show during the first 45 minutes and he nearly got his hat-trick before the half-hour mark but nodded just over at the back post.

It was all Woking first half and with a further chance through Kacper Lopata going just wide towards the end, it meant The Heed went into the break without a sniff on goal.

HT: 2-0

During the interval, Gateshead were clearly given a wake-up call from the manager Mike Williamson as they came out all guns blazing. Ed Francis had his side’s first chance when he cut in from the right-hand side and just curled over the bar from 25 yards out.

Then shortly after the hour mark, the North East side pulled one back after Stephen Wearne and Adam Campbell combined for the latter to score from a deflected shot on the edge of the box.

It was a nervy ending with it becoming even more troubling for the home faithful when James Daly went down injured and was unable to continue. To make matters worse, with all three substitutes being made, his side was forced to play the remaining five minutes, plus injury time, with ten men.

Right at the death, Gateshead thought they had equalised when Owen Bailey jumped highest to win a header, but Will Jaaskelainen got down just in time to push it wide and away from danger.

FT: 2-1

With Chesterfield losing on the road to Bromley, Woking are now back in prime position to claw back that semi-final playoff spot. A win on Tuesday night against FC Halifax Town in the last home league game of the season would see the Surrey side leap over them once again and force a final-day showdown at Solihull to decide the outcome. #COYCards

Woking Starting XI: Jaaskelainen, Moss, Cuthbert, Lopata (73), Casey, Kellermann (46), Ince, Nwabuokei, Browne (65), Amond, Daly

Subs: McNerney (73), Wilkinson, O’Connell (46), Dackers, Wakefield (65)

Gateshead Starting XI: Marschall, Bailey, Storey, Pye, Francis, Whelan, Hasani, Wearne, Olley, Campbell (83), Dinanga (83)

Subs: Montgomery, Tinkler, Ward, Conteh (83), Harris (83)

Attendance: 3,519

Man of the Match: Rhys Browne