Donnellan’s first half goal proves enough for the Cards against Harrogate

Woking 1 Harrogate Town 0 – Vanarama National League

Saturday 10^th August 2019 – Attendance: 1,470

Peter Moore at the Laithwaite Community Stadium

Woking bounced back from their derby day defeat against Aldershot Town with a hard-worked victory against Harrogate Town.

Shaun Donnellan’s deflected first half strike was the difference between the sides, but the Cards had to ride their luck to grab their first home win of the season.

Harrogate adapted best to the blustery conditions early on with Jack Muldoon sending in a shot which Craig Ross dealt with and a corner which caused total panic in the Cards defence, which was eventually cleared away.

Town were the better side in the early stages, but against the run of play Woking took the lead on 18 minutes when Donnellan’s 25-yard strike took a huge deflection past James Belshaw.

The opening goal seemed to galvanise Woking with Dave Tarpey and Ibrahim Meite both going close, but the Cards had a massive slice of luck moments later when a low cross from Joe Leesley found Jack Muldoon barely three yards out, but somehow, he missed the target.

Deep into first-half stoppage time Muldoon’s near post header was tipped onto the woodwork from Ross. The visitors were on the front foot in the second half when Mark Beck’s header was cleared of the line by Josh Casey.  Harrogate centre back Lloyd Kerry had to be stretchered off following a challenge from Moussa Diarra, who had to be taken off as well. The loss of the towering centre back seemed to inspire Woking with Meite coming within a whisker of doubling their advantage.

With Town throwing everything at the Cards, the home side’s back line refused to be breached with Casey blocking Warren Burkell’s volley. In the seven minutes of stoppage time, Ross pulled off a fantastic double save from Josh Falkingham and Leesley as last season’s National League top scorers failed to break down a resolute Woking defence, with the whole of the back five outstanding on the day, as Woking made it two wins out of three in the course of seven days.

Woking Manager Alan Dowson said, “They are an honest bunch of lads and I think that showed today, they really had a go and they worked very hard, so yes I am very pleased with the result as we now have six points after three games”. He also added that they need to improve, “Can we improve, yes we can and I believe we will, but it’s all about getting points on the board”.

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver said: “It was a massive deflection and I think it was their first sight near goal. The amount of chances we created today it is a real kick in the stomach that we lost”.