Sam Austin scored twice and assisted another as we recorded a club-record 31st win of the season.

After going into the break level, we turned the screw in the second half as the attacking midfielder produced two fine finishes and a lovely cross for Aaron Nemane to bundle the ball home.

The win moves us a point behind first-place Wrexham, who play their game in hand on Tuesday.

Luke Williams made three changes to the side that slipped to a narrow defeat at Wrexham, with Aden Baldwin taking Geraldo Bajrami’s place in the heart of defence, Nemane making way for Jodi Jones and Austin coming in for Jim O’Brien.

Junior Morias was named in the matchday squad for the first time, taking his place alongside O’Brien, Frank Vincent, Nemane and Cedwyn Scott.

In a first half of few clear-cut chances, we claimed the first shot as Langstaff spun in the area and saw his effort blocked by a wall of defenders.

Kyran Lofthouse then had the visitors’ first sights at goal, seeing a shot palmed over by Slocombe before, moments later, getting his strike all wrong inside the area.

Woking were pressing us ferociously, often forcing us long, but on 37 minutes we nearly scored what would surely have been our goal of the season as we brilliantly played our way out and eventually worked the ball to Rodrigues, who shifted it on to his left foot and saw his shot blocked heroically by a defender.

And the Portuguese had another good chance on the stroke of half-time when he was picked out by Bostock with a curling free-kick. He couldn’t guide his header on target, however, and shortly after Chicksen, who’d swapped wings with Jones earlier in the half, sent a 20-yard effort wide the referee called time on the half.

The visitors had the first opportunity after the restart, Dan Moss escaping into the right-hand channel but failing to lift the ball over the onrushing Slocombe.

And, a minute later, the opposition keeper was beaten as we worked an overload down the right which saw Palmer’s low cross brilliantly dispatched by Austin, who found the roof of the net in front of a jubilant Kop.

We kept up our pressure and saw big penalty appeals waved away as Rodrigues’ attempted cross appeared to be blocked by a hand.

And the midfielder was frustrated with the officials once again moments later when he was brought down on the edge of the area, only for there to be no whistle.

Woking reminded us of their own threat when Padraig Amond rose above Chicksen to meet a 63^rd minute corner, only to send his header comfortably over Slocombe’s crossbar.

But it didn’t take us long to double our lead as Austin turned provider, playing a delicious cross into the area which Nemane, on for Jones, directed goalwards with an acrobatic effort inside the six-yard box. It was half saved by the keeper but the ball ricocheted off the sub and into the net.

And it was another substitute, Scott, who unlocked the door for our third as he played the perfect through ball for Austin to scamper into the area and apply the coolest of finishes.

Slocombe saved from Rhys Browne as the visitors desperately sought a way back into the match but there was no let-up from us as we went close to a fourth through Palmer, who controlled the ball superbly 25 yards out before curling an effort just wide.

And Palmer had a better chance to score on the stroke of full-time as we brilliantly worked the ball to him in the area, only for his shot to be saved.

And the last big moment went to Morias who, having replaced Langstaff earlier in the half, controlled a looping ball on his thigh and watched on as his powerfully-struck half-volley was well kept out by the Cards’ keeper.

STARTING XI: Slocombe; Cameron, Baldwin, Rawlinson; Chicksen, Jones (Nemane 68’); Bostock, Palmer, Austin, Rodrigues (Scott 73’); Langstaff (Morias 73’)

UNUSED SUBS: Vincent, O’Brien

ATTENDANCE: 8,520 (436)