Glen Harrington
9:10am, Sat 11th Mar 2023
Woking vs Maidenhead United
Vanarama National League
Saturday 11th March 2023
Woking will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they host Maidenhead United in their latest National League fixture at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
Besieged by injuries, it’s been a difficult period for the Cards, who were unlucky to be beaten 1-0 at Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night, after winning by the same score at Yeovil Town last weekend. Manager Darren Sarll and his team will now be hoping that home advantage pays dividends, with the club on a five-match unbeaten run on home soil, stretching back to December of last year. The Cards have endured a mixed recent record against Saturday’s opponents, who won the reverse fixture 1-0 in September, but are typically stronger against the Magpies at home, winning three and drawing one of the last four meetings.
Sarll will be boosted by the return of striker Rhys Browne, who completed his three-match suspension on Saturday, but has suggested in his pre-match interview that none of his injured contingent – Luke Wilkinson, James Daly, Reece Grego-Cox, Jermaine Anderson, Jake Hessenthaler – are ready to return, with defender Wilkinson the closest to re-joining the squad. Scott Cuthbert is the other man likely to come back into the team having been rested in favour of Billy Sass-Davies on Tuesday.
Opposition Watch
Maidenhead, led by veteran manager Alan Devonshire, have enjoyed another season of defying expectations. They sit comfortably in 15th place, with 43 points from 36 games, 10 points clear of the relegation places. They are marginally stronger at home, where they’ve taken 26 points, but they have won five times away from home, including their last away game at Halifax.
Their recent form is also good, with 10 points from the last 15, including wins against Yeovil, Dagenham, and the aforementioned success at the Shay. They also claimed a hugely credible draw with league leaders Wrexham after coming from behind twice and scoring an equaliser in second-half stoppage time to draw 2-2. Their recent run came to an end on Tuesday when they lost 1-0 at home to Boreham Wood.
The most familiar name in the Magpies squad is Kane Ferdinand, who made over 150 appearances for the Cards between 2016 and 2021. He has played over 60 times for Devonshire’s side since moving to York Road and is a key player for the Berkshire-side. Defender Cole Kpekawa was also a one-time Woking trialist. Their top scorer is 22-year-old forward Emile Acquah, who has scored ten league goals this season, whilst other dangermen include winger Ashley Nathaniel-George and former England C international midfielder Charlee Adams.
Recent Meetings
• Maidenhead United
1-0 Woking – 17th September 2022, National League
• Woking
1-0 Maidenhead United – 12th March 2022, National League (Kabamba)
• Maidenhead United
3-2 Woking – 23rd October 2021, National League (Kretzschmar, McNerney)
• Maidenhead United
2-1 Woking – 24th April 2021, National League (Ferdinand)
• Woking
0-0 Maidenhead United – 23rd January 2021, National League
Tickets
When pre-purchased, ticket prices are £20 for Adults, £15 for Concessions, £12 for Next-Gen and £5 for Under 16s. Tickets bought on the gate on the day are charged at an additional £2.
For more information and to book your ticket please
click here.
