Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 14th FebruaryFeb 2023
Racecourse Ground | Att: 10030

Wrexham
Wrexham
2 - 2

Woking
Woking

Match Preview | Second vs third as Cards look to upset title-chasing Wrexham

Glen Harrington
7:02pm, Mon 13th Feb 2023
Wrexham vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 14th February 2023


Woking will be aiming to cause a Valentine’s Day upset as they look to end the league’s only one hundred percent home record at Wrexham on Tuesday evening.

The Cards, who have the league’s third best away record, behind only Wrexham and Notts County, enjoyed a successful mid-week outing last week when they defeated Chesterfield 3-1. Things were tougher on home soil this past weekend, but they showed great character to come from 2-0 down to claim a point against play-off hopefuls Boreham Wood, with a second-half Rhys Browne double earning them a hard-fought draw. They’ll now be looking to carry that momentum into their trip to the Racecourse Ground, notoriously a difficult trip for the Cards in any season, having lost on their last five visits and failed to score in the last four.

Darren Sarll made just once change against the Wood, with Jake Hessenthaler replacing the injured Jermaine Anderson, but he could be tempted by the inclusion of one or both of Kyran Lofthouse or Solomon Nwabuokei, who both had a big impact on the game after coming on early in the second-half. The Woking boss also has recent addition, Cambridge United loanee Lewis Simper to call upon should he wish, with the 21-year-old having already made 16 appearances in all competitions for the League One side this season.

Opposition Watch

It looks to well and truly be a two-horse race for the National League title with Wrexham and rivals Notts County set to battle it out until the end of the campaign. The pair have virtually been neck-and-neck since August. Notts currently lead the way, three points better off, but Wrexham have two games in hand – mostly as a result of their extended run in the FA Cup, which saw them beaten in a round four replay by Championship side Sheffield United. Woking, in third, are currently 14 and 17 points behind the top two respectively.

Wrexham’s success has been built on a remarkable home record which has so far seen them win all 13 league games – with their meagre tally of 16 dropped points all coming on the road. Their count of 75 goals scored is the second best in the league, one less than Notts, whilst their record of just 25 goals conceded is the best in the division – two better than Woking’s last opponents, Boreham Wood. Their top scorer is Paul Mullin, with 29 in 34 games in all competitions, whilst former Card Ollie Palmer has chipped in with 14.

The Red Dragons are on an eight-match winning streak in the league, dating back to a 1-1 draw with York City at the start of December. However, they haven’t had it all their own way in that time, with four of those games settled by just one goal, including late winners against bottom side Maidstone and Altrincham, who also knocked Phil Parkinson’s side out of the FA Trophy on penalties last month.

Recent Meetings

• Woking 2-3 Wrexham – 27th August 2022, National League (Daly, Grego-Cox)
• Woking 2-1 Wrexham – 23rd April 2022, National League (Kretzschmar, Loza)
• Wrexham 1-0 Woking – 11th September 2021, National League
• Woking 0-4 Wrexham – 17th April 2021, National League
• Wrexham 2-0 Woking – 16th February 2021, National League

Tickets

Prices are £21 for Adults, £16 Concessions (Over 65), £16 Under 21s, £9 Under 18s, and £5 Under 11s. Tickets must be pre-purchased online and cannot be purchased on the gate. For more information and to book your ticket please click here.

Match Report | Cards make Wrexham drop points at home for the first time

William Bewsey
1:36pm, Thu 16th Feb 2023
Wrexham 2-2 Woking
Vanarama National League
14th February 2023

Darren Sarll made two changes to the side that came from behind against Boreham Wood, with Kyran Lofthouse and Joe McNerney coming in for Jake Hessenthaler and Scott Cuthbert

The Cards looked to replicate their fast start against Chesterfield, and just six minutes in, they had done just that.

An excellent corner routine saw Casey’s ball flicked into the path of Padraig Amond at the back post, and his header found the net.

As expected from a side as ruthless at home as Wrexham, the Red Dragons aimed to make amends immediately, and when Ollie Palmer raced towards goal, a perfect challenge from Jim Kellermann bailed Woking out.

Dan Moss needed to be at hand to block Andy Cannon’s cross from reaching the path of Elliott Lee moments later, as Sarll’s men were putting bodies on the line early on.

A rare mishap from the home defence saw the ball find James Daly on the edge of the box, but he curled his effort narrowly wide.

Craig Ross was called into action after 36 minutes, when a great Wrexham move found Jacob Mendy. His shot was arrowing into the top corner, but Ross produced an outstanding save to tip the ball onto the post.

However, the hosts had their goal minutes later. The ever dangerous Paul Mullin was fouled on the edge of the box, and Anthony Forde’s free kick was inch perfect into the top corner.

Half time soon followed, and despite Woking taking an early lead, Wrexham had finished the half the stronger side, and it took a moment of magic for them to equalise.

Half-time: Wrexham 2-2 Woking

Wrexham had a penalty ten minutes into the second half, when Ollie Palmer was tripped. Paul Mullin dispatched the spot kick into the bottom left corner.

As the Cards looked to get themselves back into the game, a Casey free kick was controlled and finished by Joe McNerney, but the referee blew for a foul by a Woking player.

Rhys Browne then latched onto a long ball and drove towards goal, but could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

The Cards had a penalty with 72 minutes gone after Daly capitalised on a loose touch and went down. The ever-composed Rhys Browne slotted home into the bottom left corner to restore parity and send the travelling 232 Woking fans wild once again.

Wrexham pushed forward, with Elliot Lee’s deflected shot just creeping wide of the far post. This was as good as a point can come for Woking, as they frustrated their opponents and managed to grab a point. Next up is a long trip to Altrincham on Saturday.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 2 Kyran Lofthouse, 3 Josh Casey, 5 Joe McNerney, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 James Daly, 10 Padraig Amond (19 Hessenthaler 89’), 12 Dan Moss, 14 Rhys Browne (20 Dackers 83’), 17 Jim Kellermann, 24 Rohan Ince (16 Nwabuokei 82’).

Unused subs: Will Jaaskelainen, Charlie O’Connell,

Goals: Padraig Amond 5’, Rhys Browne 72’

Bookings: Ince 61’

Wrexham AFC: Mark Howard, Anthony Forde, Ben Tozer, Eoghan O’Connell, Harry Lennon (Cleworth 72’), Jacob Mendy, Andy Cannon (Jones 72’), Elliot Lee, Luke Young, Ollie Palmer, Paul Mullin

Unused subs: Liam McAlinden, Rob Lainton, Sam Dalby

Goals: Forde 38’, Mullin 56’

Referee: Steven Copeland

Attendance: 10,030 (232 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Jim Kellermann put in an outstanding shift in midfield, giving the Cards a platform to build on.
Wrexham LINEUP
21Mark Howard
14Anthony Forde ('80)
19Jacob Mendy
4Ben Tozer
15Eoghan O'Connell
26Harry Lennon ('72)
8Luke Young
20Andy Cannon ('72)
38Elliot Lee
9Ollie Palmer
10Paul Mullin
BENCH
1Rob Lainton
32Max Cleworth ('72)
30James Jones ('72)
11Liam McAlinden
18Sam Dalby ('80)
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
12Dan Moss
3Josh Casey
6Luke Wilkinson
5Joe McNerney
24Rohan Ince ('81)
17Jim Kellermann
2Kyran Lofthouse
8James Daly
14Rhys Browne ('83)
10Padraig Amond ('89)
BENCH
22Will Jaaskelainen
15Charlie O'Connell
16Solomon Nwabuokei ('81)
19Jake Hessenthaler ('89)
20Marcus Dackers ('83)

Wrexham 2-2 Woking | Darren Sarll Interview

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