Rochdale produced a commanding performance at the Crown Oil Arena, dispatching Woking 3-0 to climb the National League table. The home side asserted their dominance from the opening whistle, taking the lead just five minutes into the match. A flowing passing move culminated in Aaron Henry feeding the ball to Kairo Mitchell, who coolly slotted it past the Woking goalkeeper. The early breakthrough set the tone for a one-sided encounter, with Rochdale enjoying the lion’s share of possession and crafting a number of promising opportunities. Woking, in contrast, struggled to establish any meaningful attacking presence, their forays forward frequently breaking down in the final third. The first half’s rising tensions resulted in bookings for both Max Dyche of Woking and Rochdale goalscorer Mitchell midway through the half.
Woking’s need for a drastic change in approach was evident as they made a triple substitution just before the hour mark. However, it was Rochdale who struck next, extending their lead in the 60th minute. A perfectly weighted through ball from Devante Rodney released Aaron Henry, who finished emphatically to make it 2-0. This second goal appeared to deflate Woking, and Rochdale continued to press for further reward. While both sides made further substitutions as the game progressed, the outcome never seemed in doubt. Rochdale put the finishing touch on a dominant display in the 88th minute, with Mitchell securing his brace, expertly converting a well-placed assist from Kyron Gordon. The final whistle confirmed a comprehensive victory for Rochdale.
The three points see Rochdale move up to 4th place in the National League table with 11 points, leapfrogging Woking who drop to 11th on 9 points. Last season saw the two sides share the spoils, each winning one of their two league encounters.