Cahill heroics secure extra point against Woking in National League Cup opener

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Albion begin National League Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw.

Charlie Hanson

2024-10-01T21:00+01:00

Killian Cahill saved two penalties in the shootout. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion drew their National League Cup opener against Woking 2-2, although Shannon Ruth's team came away with an extra point thanks to a victory in the penalty shootout.

Josh Duffus and Ruairi McConville appeared to secure Albion victory in normal time, but a late rally from the Cardinals forced spot-kicks when Dion Kelly-Evans and Jamie Andrews both scored in stoppage time.

The first chance of the evening went Woking's way when Deon Moore met a corner at the back-post, but his header was kept out by Killian Cahill and cleared.

Josh Duffus notched his fifth goal of the campaign to put Albion in front. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Marcus Ifill then blazed a shot over for Albion before in-form striker Josh Duffus put Shannon Ruth's team in front after 34 minutes. Having cut in from the left, the 18-year-old worked a yard of space before rifling past Cardinals goalkeeper Ollie Webber from 15-yards.

The forward deserved to double the lead when he ran almost the length of the pitch on the break only to thump his shot over from an angle, with Jamie Mullins denied by an outstanding Webber save moments later as the half-time whistle approached.

The Irishman's strike from 30-yards just after the restart was easier to deal with for the Cardinals keeper, although Webber couldn't get anywhere near Ifill's superb bending effort five minutes later which looked destined for the top corner, but instead smacked the post and bounced clear.

Ruairi McConville doubled Albion's lead ten minutes after the restart. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

It mattered little though as Albion had their second of the night after 55 minutes. Ruairi McConville was the scorer, stooping to head in Harry Howell's corner which was nearly hacked clear on the line but deflected into the roof of the net.

Howell looked to get in on the action when his curler was palmed away by Webber, with the keeper then counting his lucky stars as he clipped the heels of Remiero Moulton in the penalty area - but a penalty wasn't awarded by referee Paul Johnson.

Having looked set for a debut victory in the competition, Albion had their lead halved when Andrews struck from ten yards in the 89th minute.

Joe Knight and Ruairi McConville await a delivery from a corner. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

And with virtually the last kick of the game Woking found an equaliser when Kelly-Evans' flicked header found the back of the net.

With the 90 minutes up, a penalty shootout would determine who came away with an extra point.

Mullins, Caylan Vickers and Jacob Slater scored from the spot before Cahill saved Jermaine Anderson's penalty, diving down to his right.

Remiero Moulton slotted his penalty home, but Freddie Simmonds's was saved by the legs of Webber.

Cahill would prove to be the hero though, as he kept out Tom Leahy's penalty to win the shootout 4-3 and secure an extra point for the visitors.

Albion are next in National League Cup action when they face Aldershot Town on Tuesday 5 November.

The Albion team: Cahill, Tasker, Simmonds, McConville (Penman 84), Ifill (Bashir 84), Knight (Albarus 73), Mullins, Slater, Vickers, Howell (Moulton 73), Duffus (Flower 60).