7:45pm - TuesdayTue 31st JanuaryJan 2023
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 2191

Woking

1 - 1

Torquay

Torquay United

Match Preview | Cards hoping to continue strong form in return to action

Glen Harrington
8:18am, Sun 29th Jan 2023

Woking vs Torquay United
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Woking will be aiming to retain third place in the National League table when they host Torquay United at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Tuesday evening.

This is an important game for both sides. The disruption to the January fixture list, including the cold weather which put pay to almost every fifth-tier games just over a week ago, has seen the league table continue to shift, with some teams having up to five games in hand on their rivals. The Cards can reinforce their grip on third place with at least a point against their visitors on Tuesday, albeit fourth-place Chesterfield would have two games in hand. At the other end of the table, Torquay are three points adrift of safety whilst Oldham, the team just above the relegation spots, have a game in hand.

Darren Sarll’s side, who beat Scunthorpe United 2-0 last time out, will be aiming to win a fifth successive game for the first time this season. They will be boosted by the return to full fitness of Ricky Korboa, an unused substitute against the Iron after three games out, whilst Luke Wilkinson is available again after being injured at the end of October. Reece Grego-Cox and Sid Nelson remain the only long-term absentees, whilst midfielder Jermaine Anderson will complete the final game of his three-match suspension for the red card against Aldershot.

Opposition Watch

It has been a challenging season for Torquay who have spent almost the entire campaign mired in the relegation places. They have taken 25 points from their 27 fixtures and currently sit third from bottom in 22nd place. However, their recent form has been much improved, with three consecutive wins in all competitions, all at home: 1-0 against Halifax, 4-2 against Taunton Town in the FA Trophy, and, crucially, 1-0 against relegation rivals Maidstone on Saturday. Their last away win came at Dagenham at the start of December.

In fact, the Gulls have only lost two of their last nine in all competitions, having been beaten by Yeovil on New Year’s Day and suffering a narrow defeat at Oldham in mid-December. Vastly experienced manager Gary Johnson, who has masterminded a National League South title win and a National League play-off final appearance in his four years in charge, has made several recent additions to try and turn his side’s fortunes around. These have included striker Tope Fadahunsi, on loan from Sutton, midfielder Ricky Aguiar, on loan from Swindon, defender Nico Lawrence, on loan from Southampton, and forward James Crole, on loan from Cardiff.

Their joint top scorers this season are Aaron Jarvis and Will Goodwin, both on seven, although the latter’s loan spell from Stoke City ended this month ahead of a move to Cheltenham Town. The ex-Card in the Torquay ranks is versatile defender Shaun Donnellan.

Recent Meetings

• Torquay United 1-3 Woking – 29th August 2022, National League (Daly 2, Roles)
• Woking 0-1 Torquay United – 15th April 2022, National League
• Torquay United 0-4 Woking – 30th August 2021, National League (Campbell 2, Ince, Thompson-Sommers)
• Woking 0-2 Torquay United – 20th April 2021, National League
• Torquay United 1-0 Woking – 2nd April 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.

Match Report | Cards held by tenacious Torquay

William Bewsey
10:22am, Wed 1st Feb 2023

Woking 1-1 Torquay United
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Woking were unable to take all three points against a Torquay United side who showed fight and desire as they look to avoid relegation.

Darren Sarll’s men began the stronger, with James Daly in particular looking to threaten against the side he scored two against in August, drawing a couple of fouls early on, as well as forcing a smart save from Mark Halstead with ten minutes gone.

The visitors were making sure they didn’t give anything away to the Cards in the opening exchanges and looked to use the combination of Tope Fadahunsi and Dillon De Silva to get in behind the Woking defence. A shot from Kieron Evans from distance flew just over the crossbar of Craig Ross with twenty minutes on the clock.

A guilt-edged chance fell to Torquay striker Aaron Jarvis moments later, after he broke the offside trap, but dragged his shot wide of the Woking goal.

Both sides were huffing and puffing but opportunities in the final third were limited for the majority of the half. Rohan Ince and Dean Moxey both found themselves in the book after separate clashes with opposition players, which highlighted the scrappy nature of the game.

Woking broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time, a great cross from Kellermann found Rhys Browne, whose exquisite touch was perfect for Padraig Amond, and the Irishman produced the perfect finish into the bottom corner, to give the Cards something to take into the break after a scrappy first half.

Half-time: Woking 1-0 Torquay United

The second half began in similar fashion to the majority of the first, with both teams scrapping it out in the midfield and not being able to keep possession.

However, a long ball found Fadahunsi in on goal with an hour gone, and he lifted the ball over Ross to equalise.

And the Torquay striker almost gave the Gulls the lead minutes later, but an excellent save from Ross to tip the ball wide of the far post prevented this.

This spell of pressure saw Ince and Browne replaced by new signing Jake Hessenthaler and Kyran Lofthouse on 65 minutes, and shots from Amond and Lofthouse had to be saved by Halstead as Woking looked to retake the lead.

The Cards’ pressure was repelled by Torquay on numerous occasions, whether that be through stoppages for injuries, or fouls committed by Woking players. It seemed like it would be one of those days, as Lofthouse fired the ball across the face of goal, only for no one to get on the end of it.

Another shot from Daly was saved as the Cards threatened further, with Marcus Dackers replacing Amond as the final Woking change.

Deep into injury time, Daly once again forced a superb save from Halstead, after his header from a ball in from Moss almost crept into the corner, but the Torquay stopper clawed the ball away.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 5 Joe McNerney, 8 James Daly, 10 Padraig Amond (20 Dackers 76’), 12 Dan Moss, 14 Rhys Browne (2 Lofthouse 65’), 17 Jim Kellermann, 16 Solomon Nwabuokei, 24 Rohan Ince (19 Hessenthaler 65’).

Unused subs: Luke Wilkinson, Charlie O’Connell

Goals: Padraig Amond 43’

Bookings: Rohan Ince 25’

Torquay United: Mark Halstead, Tom Lapslie, Ryan Hanson, Aaron Jarvis, Tope Fadahunsi (Crowe 78’), Kieron Evans, Ben Wyatt, Shaun Donnellan, Nico Lawrence, Dean Moxey, Dillon De Silva

Unused subs: Ross Marshall, Jacob Mensah, Brett McGavin, Rhys Lovett

Goals: Tope Fadahunsi 61’

Bookings: Dean Moxey 41’, Dillon De Silva 90+8’

Referee: Alan Dale

Attendance: 2191

Man of the Match: James Daly was brilliant on the wing, carving out numerous opportunities and providing a threat.

WOKING LINEUP
13	Craig Ross
12	Dan Moss
3	Josh Casey
4	Scott Cuthbert
5	Joe McNerney
24	Rohan Ince ('62)
17	Jim Kellermann
14	Rhys Browne ('62)
8	James Daly
16	Solomon Nwabuokei
10	Padraig Amond ('76)
BENCH
6	Luke Wilkinson
15	Charlie O'Connell
2	Kyran Lofthouse ('62)
19	Jake Hessenthaler ('62)
20	Marcus Dackers ('76)

Torquay United LINEUP
1	Mark Halstead
21	Dean Moxey
15	Ben Wyatt
16	Shaun Donnellan
19	Nico Lawrence
4	Tom Lapslie
7	Ryan Hanson
11	Kieron Evans
27	Dillon De Silva
9	Aaron Jarvis
10	Tope Fadahunsi ('78)
BENCH
2	Dylan Crowe ('78)
6	Ross Marshall
12	Jacob Mensah
14	Brett McGavin
22	Rhys Lovett