MATCH REPORT: Woking 3-2 Aldershot Town

Woking 3-2 Aldershot Town

Enterprise National League

Laithwaite Community Stadium

21st March 2026

Woking hosted local rivals Aldershot Town for the second instalment of the Surrey Hampshire derby which has grown in hostility and interest in recent years.

Craig Ross and his interim management team named a side with just two changes from the midweek win over Yeovil, with Jamie Andrews replacing Jake Forster-Caskey and Timmy Akinola, fresh from signing new terms, replacing Roy Syla who went off injured last time out.

For the Shots, last season’s pantomime villain Theo Widdrington captained John Coleman’s side, whilst neither side’s squad contained a player who had donned both the red and white of Woking as well as red and blue of Aldershot Town, a rare occurrence in this fixture.

In the Surrey sunshine, all pre match build up was put aside and the sides went to battle. Aldershot had the first moment of note, as all hearts were in mouths when Josh Barrett lined up a volley inside the box, but his shot was headed away by Chin Okoli as it appeared to be goalbound.

Woking would strike first with a well-worked corner routine as Andrews’ delivery was flicked on by Drewe and nodded in by Joe Gbode inside the six yard box, giving the Cards the start they wanted after twelve minutes.

This would galvanise the Cards, who had Aldershot nervous, so nervous in fact that Boyce-Clarke in goal and Inwood in defence forgot to communicate on a low cross and Inwood had to blast it over his own bar.

One became two with another fantastic corner, as Drewe delivered and Beautyman glanced into the top bins, a perfect header and an excellent start for the Cards.

Aldershot would get one back when Brody Peart found space down the left hand side and was able to place a wonderful effort into the far corner, giving Jaaskelainen no chance and meaning three goals had been scored in the opening half an hour.

Both sides continued to battle away as the first half ended, with Woking on top but a very capable Aldershot attack caused trouble at times for Craig Ross’s side.

Half-Time: Woking 2-1 Aldershot Town

Woking were awarded a penalty just five minutes into the second half when Matt Ward was played in behind and bundled over by Ryheem Sheckleford. Beautyman did what Beautyman does ever so well and blasted the ball out of the reach of Boyce-Clarke to restore the Cards’ two-goal cushion.

Back came the Shots however, and after a dominant passage of play they got their second goal. Barrett given far too much space on the right hand side and his drilled ball was deflected into the path of Widdrington, who couldn’t miss from a couple of yards.

Boyce-Clarke then had a moment to forget with ten minutes to go, air kicking the ball straight to Sanderson who volleyed into the back of the net, but for some reason the goal was disallowed as the Laithwaite looked on bemused. With Aldershot blushes spared, the dangerous Charlie Warren advanced into the Woking box a minute later and tested the palms of Jaaskelainen.

Five painstakingly tense minutes of injury time were seen out successfully and the Cards had their first double over the Hampshire side since 2022/23. Credit must go to both sides for their part in a thrilling encounter played with high intensity throughout, but Woking have the bragging rights for now ????

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Drewe, Richards, Okoli, Odusina, Andrews (Tunji Akinola 70′), Tim Akinola (Forster-Caskey 70′), Beautyman (Gorman 87′), Ward, Gbode (Hinds 56′), Sanderson

Unused substitutes: Ross, Pennant, Ashford

Goals: Gbode 12′, Beautyman 21′, 53′ (pen)

Sponsors MOTM: Harry Beautyman

Attendance: 4993