WOKING, England (Interstat) — Woking opened its National League season with a dominant 5-1 victory over Morecambe at The Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday, April 11, 2026, delivering a performance that far exceeded statistical projections.

The Cardinals, playing at home, dismantled the visiting Shrimps with a ruthless attacking display, scoring three times in the first half and adding two more in second-half stoppage time. The result defied a pregame simulation by Interstat that had predicted a 1-1 draw, though its ELO rating system had given Woking an 84.2 percent chance to win.

Woking established control early and never relinquished it. The breakthrough came in the 12th minute when midfielder Harry Beautyman found the net to give the hosts a lead they would only build upon. Defender Aaron Drewe, who would prove instrumental, extended the advantage in the 37th minute with a goal of his own.

The first-half onslaught continued just four minutes later. Substitute Jack Nolan, introduced into the fray, made an immediate impact by scoring Woking’s third goal in the 41st minute, effectively putting the game out of reach before halftime and capping a devastating period for the visitors.

Morecambe, beginning its campaign with a defeat, managed to pull a goal back in the second half to avoid a shutout. The consolation score came in the 77th minute from forward Oliver Sanderson, briefly interrupting Woking’s flow.

Any notion of a late comeback was emphatically extinguished in added time, however, as Woking struck twice more to underline its superiority. Sam Ashford restored the three-goal cushion with a goal in the first minute of stoppage time. Sanderson then netted his second of the afternoon for Morecambe in the 93rd minute, but it was a mere footnote on a day dominated by the home side.

The match was not without its disciplinary moments. Woking’s Olatunji Akinola received a yellow card in the 34th minute. His teammate, the goal-scoring defender Drewe, was booked in the 51st minute. Morecambe’s Matt Ward also saw a yellow card, shown in the 58th minute.

Drewe was a standout performer for Woking, contributing a goal and an assist from his defensive position. Oliver Sanderson’s two goals for Morecambe provided the lone bright spot for the visitors. Beautyman, Ashford, and Nolan all found the net for Woking, while Akinola and Ward were credited with assists.

With the victory, Woking begins its National League season with a win and no losses, while also holding a perfect record across all competitions. Morecambe starts its season with a loss in both the National League and overall. The teams will look to build on these contrasting beginnings in their next fixtures.