MAX BACK TO HAUNT CARDS
MAX Kretzschmar proved the scourge of his former club to rescue a precious point for play-off chasing Wealdstone.
Woking fans’ favourite Kretzschmar showed his cool once again from the penalty spot to cancel out Marcus Dackers’ first-half opener for the Cards.
But Wealdstone boss Stuart Maynard was left disappointed not to have claimed all three against the high-flying hosts after home keeper Will Jaaskelainen had pulled off a string of fine stops.
“It was a hard earned point, but I thought in the first half we should have been three or four goals up,” Maynard said. “They got their goal against the run of play really which was frustrating.
“You also have to give credit to their goalie who was man of the match and has made two or three unbelievable saves, but we’ve not took chances.”
Indeed, Jaaskelainen was forced into the action early to push Ashley Charles’ effort on to the post. Seconds later, he was alert again as Olufela Olomola attempted to round the Finnish keeper, who just about managed to claim the ball at his feet.
Woking were indebted to their keeper’s inspired spell, especially when they opened the scoring on the half-hour. Luke Wilkinson’s cross was met by Dackers, who planted a header into the bottom of the net for his first goal at home in a Woking shirt.
A scrappy start to the second half saw neither keeper tested with Olomola out pacing Dan Moss before fluffing his lines with just Jaaskelainen to beat.
With the game on a knife edge, Kyran Lofthouse drilled a shot wide before unthat leashing a shot that bought out a fine save from Sam Howes as Woking pushed for a second.
Kretzschmar spent five happy years at Woking and was having a quiet game by his high standards until he finally made his mark on 76 minutes. Scott Cuthbert brought down the former Card inside the area and the former fans’ favourite dusted himself down to fire the spot kick into the roof of the net.
“I never really believed in us today,” said frustrated Woking boss Darren Sarll.
“I never really believed when we had the ball there was never going to be that roar at the end from the crowd celebrating that goal, and likewise defensively.
“Normally my belief in our defensive play is very high, very strong, but today I just felt it was a weakness to us. It was wishy washy at best, so in that sense it’s a really good point, because if you can’t win them then don’t lose them.”
Will Jaaskelainen (Woking)
2,889
★★★★★