Aldershot & Farnham (A&F) Hockey Club head coach Ian Jennings was left to bemoan missed chances after his side were held to a 2-2 draw by Woking in the South East Men’s Premier Division on Saturday.

“We certainly had the better of the chances throughout the game but, as has been our downfall all season, the poor finishing in spite of the thousands of repetitions of exactly the same scenarios in training was disappointing,” said Jennings.

Jennings admitted discipline was a factor in Saturday’s draw, with his side receiving a number of cards, but he wasn’t happy with the standard of officiating.

“It’s going to be a factor when you end up playing with a man down for a period of time,” said Jennings.

“However, the level of umpiring, the interpretation of the rules, and the execution of decisions made left a lot to be desired. For either umpire not to know a very basic rule, which allows for no interpretation or grey area in order to allow for players’ safety, is beyond comprehension. Once again we were a victim of total incompetence which is not acceptable at this level.”

The Shots sit fourth in the Premier Division with two games to go, and with a top-two finish now out of reach Jennings senses a missed opportunity.

“We approach each game with the same mindset and that is to do the very best we can,” said Jennings.

“Our journey together is rapidly coming to an end and while it still matters to the players and management, I just wonder if those behind the scenes will look back and reflect on this season as a missed opportunity to potentially have earned National League status.”

A&F started the game strongly, moving the ball across the pitch and stretching the visiting team’s press. Much of the early period of the game was played in Woking’s half, with Woking relying on aerials out from the back to alleviate pressure.

Following good work through the middle from Chris Boot and Daan Barron, Scott Perry was released into the Woking D and rifled a fierce reverse stick shot low into the far corner to give A&F the lead.

A&F then gifted Woking a way back into the game. From an innocuous position in their own D, A&F were too relaxed and in attempting to clear could only lift the ball high into the body of a Woking forward. The resulting penalty corner was played short and the ball was slapped through the A&F defensive penalty corner unit and into the goal to make it 1-1.

The goal breathed new life into Woking and they won a number of penalty corners. A&F adjusted defensively, and backed up by Hamish Hall in goal, they repelled Woking’s attempts.

A&F worked hard to lift their performance levels, with Perry and Stu Morhall both getting joy down the wings. The ball was worked into the Woking D, but Jamie Weston couldn’t get a clear shot at goal. Instead he improvised well to lift over the visiting goalkeeper, only for the ball to be cleared off the line by a covering defender.

The second half was open, with chances for both teams. Woking picked up the first card of the day for a sliding tackle which was punished with a five-minute yellow.

During those five minutes, A&F were on top. Barron had a reverse stick shot saved at the near post, before Will Caine dragged a volley wide and then saw his reverse stick shot fly high over the bar.

With Woking back to a full complement of players, A&F received a flurry of cards. An aerial was misjudged by the A&F defence and Kevin McCafferty’s attempt to intervene led to a penalty corner and a green card. Perry was green carded shortly afterwards. McCafferty’s return lasted 30 seconds before he received a yellow card for throwing an elbow.

Woking took the lead with a drag flick into the bottom right corner.

Groves was shown a yellow for not retreating five yards from a free hit. A&F won a string of corners and Perry’s drag flick proved too powerful and made it 2-2.

A&F travel to league champions Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.