With the visitors desperate for points in their bid to climb out of the bottom two, Woking knew they were in for a game, but they couldn't have imagined the ease with which they were allowed to grab their opener.
A long ball forward from Cards keeper Shwan Jalal was headed on by Justin Richards for Stephen Evans to control.
The influential Welshman skipped past his marker and with the defence parting in front of him he slipped a right-foot shot past Ryan Clarke and into the bottom corner.
Rovers were full of energy and striker Guy Madjo might have done better than snatch at a chance on the turn, while he should have squared rather go it alone on another occasion.
The game seemed to swing in Rovers' favour in the 37th minute when Madjo was fouled by Tom Hutchinson, the defender sent off as the last man, and Michael Brough levelled from the spot.
Richards had a great chance to put the Cards in front five minutes after the break, but he miscued from eight yards out. He put that right soon after though, slotting his 20th Conference goal of the season from the spot after being brought down by Jones.
Rovers threw the kitchen sink at Woking in the final 15 minutes, but with Stuart Nethercott supreme in front of excellent sub keeper Clint Davies, Woking held on.