MATCH REPORT: Woking 3-3 Eastleigh

Woking 3-3 Eastleigh

Enterprise National League

Laithwaite Community Stadium

3rd April 2026

Woking made just one change to the side who drew in midweek against Altrincham, with Timi Odusina out for Chin Okoli in the heart of defence.

This was a massive game for Eastleigh, who sat just four points above the drop zone before kick off, and their squad underwent major surgery in recent weeks. Amongst the additions is Inih Effiong, who started his season with the Cards, and was named on the bench as he hoped to continue his record of scoring against his former side going following strikes for Aldershot and Dagenham in previous years.

After a slow fifteen minutes or so, where the visitors had their fair share of the ball, Woking exploded into life with a brilliant move. Timmy Akinola played Aaron Drewe in on the right hand side, and his cross was perfect for the glanced header of Harry Beautyman for his ninth league goal of the season and the first of the Defoe era.

Eastleigh had their best chance yet after half an hour when Woking failed to clear, and the ball worked its way to Josh Lundstram whose drilled cross was smothered by Jaaskelainen with two players in blue desperately trying to bundle it in.

They were knocking on the door, with several corners being defended by the Cards, who had their hearts in their mouths on 38 minutes as Ricky Aguiar’s cross was headed against the top of the bar by Jayden Moore.

Disaster struck on the verge of half time as Tunji Akinola’s header back to Jaaskelainen was too firm and ended up in the back of his own net.

Half-time: Woking 1-1 Eastleigh

Eastleigh took a deserved lead inside the first eight minutes of the second half, when Harvey Saunders’ through ball was latched onto by Jake Vokins, and the former Woking loanee rounded Jaaskelainen and finished from the angle.

Defoe made two changes to try and get Woking back on top, as Kian Pennant and Steve Turner replaced Timmy Akinola and Harry Beautyman. A superb run from Ward down the right hand side saw him deliver a low cross that was begging for a tap in, but no one in red and white could reach it.

Moore had a golden chance to make it 3-1 when a free kick found him after being half cleared, but his effort ballooned over the bar. They would make it 3-1 when another set piece was only half cleared, and Blair’s effort was turned goalbound by Temi Eweka.

Another burst down the right hand side from Ward saw him deliver low again, but no one was in the box to finish. Woking did pull one back after 76 minutes when Pennant got in down the left hand side, and his shot was saved but straight into the path of Sanderson for a simple header into the back of the net.

It was comeback complete after 85 minutes when Pennant, so impressive since coming on, had a shot blocked before a second effort was dispatched into the far corner for his first Woking goal.

Despite six minutes of injury time and Woking knocking on the door, 3-3 was how it finished. A thriller on and off the pitch, and a real battle which the Cards had to come through to avoid defeat.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Drewe, Richards, Okoli, Beautyman (S Turner 60′), Ward, Tunji Akinola, Timmy Akinola (Pennant 60′), Forster-Caskey (Gorman 73′), Gbode (J Turner 73′), Sanderson (Taylor 82′)

Unused substitutes: Ross, Andrews

Attendance: 3517

Man of the Match: Matt Ward