By Scott Taylor

Jack Marriott’s 94th minute equaliser helped Woking salvage a point at home to Eastleigh. The draw means the Cards start 2015 on a positive not after losing four of their previous five games. The Ispwich loanee followed up his goal against Aldershot Town on Sunday by netting with virtually the last kick of the game.

Eastleigh came into the game full of confidence after beating Braintree 5-1 to replace Woking in the play-0ffs. It was Richard Hill’s side who took the lead as Woking conceded another goal through a set piece. Michael Green’s long free-kick into the box wasn’t deal with and Craig McAllister headed home from the back post in the 64th minute.

The phrase ‘You are most vulnerable when you score’ looked to apply to the Spitfires as a Woking onslaught followed. Goalscorer Marriott found himself in the same angle as his goalscoring strike, and beat Flitney but not the goal as the ball smashed off the post. Little did he know that he’ll have more success from the same angle 20 minutes later.

Dean Morgan then found himself through on goal, but fluffed his effort which easily roled into Flitney’s arms. The Woking forward had another golden opportunity moments later, but his header hit the roof of the net as the former Wycombe man searches for his tenth goal of the season.

As the game near a close, Woking fans thought there team were heading for their fifth defeat in six matches, even before so when Marriott missed a one-on-one chance with Flitney in the 89th minute, but the striker, 20, made amends four minutes later.

Joe McNerney ensured that Woking ended the first half with a clean sheet with a heroic bit of defending. The Cards captain blocked a shot from Craig McAllister that looked set to go in, only for the Woking defender to get his toe on the ball and hit it other the bar.

Eastleigh did have the ball in the back of the net moments before the incident. McNerney was again involved as he was fouled in his own penalty area shortly before Will Evans blasted home, only for referee Justin Amey to pull it back, much to the frustration of the travelling Spitfire fans.

Despite a late flourish from the visitors in the first half, Woking did have chances of their own. Kevin Betsy looked lively in the opening stages of the game. The midfielder, 36, had his header from a Dean Morgan corner cleared off the line by Eastleigh ‘keeper Ross Flitney.

Flitney was wobbly early on, with his kicking and distribution looking very nervous. He almost made a costly error when his punch was mistimed and fell to the feet of Morgan. The Woking forward then layed it off towards Jack Marriott who couldn’t control it and the Eastleigh defence cleared.

Woking XI (4-3-3): Cole; Newton, Clarke, McNerney, Arthur; Jones, Lewis (Sole 79′), Payne; Betsy, Marriott, Morgan.

Subs Not Used: Little, Murtagh, Nutter, Goddard.

Eastleigh (4-4-2): Flitney; Spence, Evans, Reid, Green; Midson, Stanley (Collins 60′), Strevens, Reason (Odubade 67′); McAllister (Fleetwood 79’), Constable.

Subs Not Used: Todd, Noice

Attendance: 1,383           Referee: Richard Martin          Next Fixture: Gateshead (A) Weds 7th Jan