The Shots deservedly took the derby day spoils as a superb and hugely resurgent performance earned victory at Kingfield.
Two goals ahead within half an hour, Aldershot Town could have won by a greater margin as Woking’s own form continued to stutter, and foundered against the visitors’ energy and desire to earn a late Christmas present.
This was a consummate away display, as Andy Scott’s attacking line-up – with Jordan Roberts at left-back and Williams, McCollin and Holman forming a dynamic trio in attack – refused to allow a disjointed Cards team time or space.
Woking had already found The Shots tough to break down when McCollin scored on the counter-attack. Barker broke forward, and fed McCollin who, after exchanging passes with Oyeleke, stabbed a cross towards the path of Holman’s darting run. With Ross Worner wrong-footed, the ball bounced across the face of goal and in at the far-post.
Debutant goalkeeper Dan Thomas made his first save on 13 minutes, smothering Arthur’s angled long-range drive under pressure from Sole. The ensuing melee earned both Sole and Oastler a yellow card.
The Shots continued to press. Hatton’s long throw, flicked on by Oastler, was held by Worner underneath his own crossbar, and, having intercepted a wayward pass, Holman saw his attempted lob drop onto the roof of the net.
The second goal came on 28 minutes, as Williams rose highest to meet Jaydon Gibbs’s deep, early cross. Worner could only get his fingertips to the ball and Williams reacted first to tap in the rebound.
Holman’s flick then had Worner scrambling as the ball dropped just wide, and Marriott’s own chip also floated over the bar. Gez Sole failed to reprise his spectacular free-kick winner from September, as two efforts crashed into the wall, and even though Woking ended the half with a brief spell of pressure and raised the tempo further after the break, they couldn’t muster a comeback.
The hosts struggled to unlock a resolute Shots defence. Murtagh’s two shots – one deflected off Barker, one hit out of the ground – and a Betsy shot which Thomas saved comfortably, were the sum total of their efforts until the introduction of top scorer Scott Rendell with 20 minutes left.
McCollin hit the side-netting with a flashing drive, and Forbes – sent clear by Holman – saw a shot saved by Worner as he bore down on goal. Appeals for handball against Chris Barker were denied by referee David Rock, and Thomas slid out to deny Marriott the angle his shot required.
Williams nutmegged Josh Payne and smashed a shot inches wide but it was still a nervy final few minutes when Payne chipped in a cross for Marriott to flick the ball over Thomas and into the far corner of the net.
Morgan’s header was saved, but Holman could have sealed the win with a shot which grazed the top of the crossbar – after Thomas’s kick sent him clear – and even with Worner thrown into the attack for one final free-kick, the expected grandstand finish never truly materialised.
After a difficult December, this was the perfect boost for The Shots before another away trip, to leaders Barnet on New Year’s Day.
