Woking 2 Maidenhead United 0
Vanarama National League Saturday 29th February 2020
Attendance: 2,019
Peter Moore at the Laithwaite Community Stadium
Former England International Matt Jarvis marked his Woking debut with a goal and assist as the Cards got themselves back to winning ways after two second half strikes were enough to defeat Maidenhead United.
A bright start from the hosts amounted to the opening chance of the match following a run down the left hand side by Alex Wall who played in Jamar Loza, with the winger bearing down on goal before sending a curling shot that appeared to be heading into the bottom corner, only for United’s keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond to claw away his effort.
Within 15 minutes of the opening exchanges it started to get very dark with hail falling throughout the half. The Cards adapted better to the elements, despite the visitors first chance of the match in the 28th minute falling to Josh Kelly, who found his shot charged down by Ben Gerring.
Woking responded with Kretzschmar sending a delightful cross from the left into the box for the onrushing Dave Tarpey, only for the striker to fail to hit the target.
Moments later it was Maidenhead’s turn to go close when a cross was whipped into the box, with Rene Steer popping up from full back, finding his shot superbly stopped by Cards keeper Craig Ross.
Loza was constantly proving a threat down the left-hand side and provided another teasing cross, which was hacked away for a corner, with the last action in a goalless opening half.
Alan Dowson decided to bring on leading scorer Jake Hyde in the 53rd minute for Wall. Hyde- who has missed the past four weeks due to injury- was immediately involved in the action by laying the ball back for Kretzschmar, but his weak shot was comfortably saved by Ashby-Hammond.
Five minutes later the sight that all Woking fans wanted to see happened. Matt Jarvis entered the fray. It took the former England winger just four minutes to make his mark, after Hyde’s drilled cross found the 33-year-old at the back post to flick the ball past Ashby-Hammond. Jarvis, who was signed by the Cards on Friday, was playing his first game for almost a year, after a short spell at Football League side Walsall last season.
Jarvis turned provider in the 82nd minute when he whipped in a corner and there was Jake Hyde to send in a downward header into the back of the net to secure the points for the Cards.