Woking 1–1 Southend United: chances missed, a point protected
Harry Cardwell’s penalty put The Shrimpers ahead, but Aiden O’Brien equalised and Joe Duncan’s late save helped preserve the unbeaten away start.
For the second time in four days, Southend reached half-time with a lead and reasons to think it should have been bigger.
This time, at least, there was a point to take home. Cardwell scored from the spot against his former club, O’Brien levelled after the break and Duncan made sure Woking did not complete the turnaround.
Twamley gives us something to follow
Southend’s first-half chances began with Ben Goodliffe, who headed off target from Anthony Hartigan’s corner inside seven minutes. Lewys Twamley, making his first start for the club, soon became the main attacking threat.
He cut in from the right and forced Will Jääskeläinen into a diving save from around 25 yards. Five minutes later, he took possession from Anthony Georgiou near halfway, raced towards goal and rounded the goalkeeper. Georgiou recovered to block the finish on the line.
It was an encouraging first start, with Twamley finding different ways to trouble Woking. It was also frustrating to see those openings pass without a goal.
Cardwell keeps his nerve
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute. Chambers-Parillon crossed towards Popoola at the back post, Zico Asare brought him down and Lewis Smith pointed to the spot. Cardwell sent Jääskeläinen the wrong way.
Southend had a deserved lead and a chance to increase it before the interval. Dan Cox’s tackle won the ball, Twamley sent it forward and Timi Odusina failed to deal with it. Cardwell went through, but the goalkeeper blocked his effort and Coker put the follow-up over.
After Kidderminster on Friday, a one-goal half-time advantage carried an uncomfortable familiarity. Southend had played well enough to lead, but left Woking close enough to change the game.
Three changes and a different half
Woking introduced O’Brien, Jake Forster-Caskey and Tunji Akinola at the interval. The hosts then asked much more of Duncan. Six minutes after the restart, he got down to turn Liam Dulson’s low effort behind.
The equaliser arrived just past the hour. Duncan saved from Dulson, then denied Roy Syla on the follow-up. O’Brien reached the third chance and finished from close range in the 61st minute.
There was little more the goalkeeper could have done in that sequence. Southend needed to stop the loose ball becoming another attempt, and Woking kept following in until they found the finish.
Duncan keeps something for the journey home
Cardwell had made way for Kendall, with Kamara and Colclough also introduced as Southend sought fresh attacking options. Harry Taylor and Oldaker followed, and Oldaker had a free-kick gathered by Jääskeläinen.
The most important late intervention came at the other end. Forster-Caskey’s free-kick from the right threatened a winner with two minutes remaining, but Duncan tipped it over. The final whistle left Southend with seven points from three away league matches.
A good away return, and a chance left behind
The away return is good. The sense of a missed opportunity is real too. Goodliffe’s header, Twamley’s two openings and Cardwell’s chance before the break gave Southend routes to a stronger lead.
What followed cannot simply be blamed on finishing. Woking changed their personnel and the balance of the match changed with them. Southend had to deal with a more assertive opponent and spent much of the second half protecting what they had earned earlier.
Duncan deserves particular credit. His double save did not prevent the equaliser, but his late stop ensured that Southend avoided a second defeat in quick succession. Twamley’s first-half contribution is another positive to carry forward.
We want more from positions like this, especially after Friday’s lesson. There is enough attacking promise to be encouraged, but converting that promise and responding when opponents improve are the next jobs. Yeovil at Roots Hall will give us another look at both. Up the Shrimpers.
Match Details
Goals
Woking — Aiden O’Brien 61′
Southend United — Harry Cardwell 38′ (pen)
Southend United Yellow Cards
Vontae Daley-Campbell 10′, Charley Kendall 75′, Dan Cox 87′
Team Line-ups
Woking
Jääskeläinen, Odusina (Tunji Akinola 45′), Okoli, Ogie, Asare (Putman 83′), Syla, Tim Akinola (Forster-Caskey 45′), Turner, Georgiou (O’Brien 45′), Ward, Dulson (Harris 71′).
Subs: Sohna, O’Brien, Ross, Tunji Akinola, Harris, Putman, Forster-Caskey.
Southend United
Duncan, Daley-Campbell (Taylor 66′), Goodliffe, Oyebade, Cox, Hartigan (Oldaker 66′), Twamley (Kamara 58′), Coker, Popoola (Colclough 59′), Cardwell (Kendall 55′), Chambers-Parillon.
Subs: Kamara, Oldaker, Sims, Taylor, Backwell, Kendall, Colclough.
