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Rochdale
Rochdale
2 - 1

Woking
Woking

Match Preview and Guide | Rochdale (A)

William Bewsey
11:29am, Mon 11th Mar 2024
Rochdale vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 12th March 2024
19:45 Kick-Off



Woking will look to continue their recent run of good form when they travel to Rochdale for the first time on Tuesday night.

Following Ricky Korboa’s stoppage time winner at Altrincham, it’s now three wins in a row for Michael Doyle’s side, and they will be facing a side who have won just twice this calendar year. In fact, a win for the Cards would take them above their hosts.

There was some bad news after Saturday however, which was that Manny Oyeleke had to come off with an injury. This opens up a slot in the midfield, and Doyle will be hoping that whoever takes that spot does it with such efficiency as Kevin Berkoe did when he was brought on in Oyeleke’s place.

Luke Wilkinson, rested in place of Timi Odusina on Saturday, may come in for Scott Cuthbert, with the 36-year-old potentially being rotated after playing a remarkable 32 games so far this season.

Opposition Watch
Going into the New Year, Dale looked a decent bet for playoffs, having been in the mix for most of the season and being just a point off 7th place. However, since then it’s been anything but plain sailing.

Just two wins in their last ten has seen Jimmy McNulty’s side fall away from playoff contention and has them checking their rear view mirror to see if they can secure safety. Currently sitting 13th, there’s currently a five point buffer between Dale and the drop, meaning potential defeat to the Cards could see alarm bells ringing on the pitch.

Off it, they’ve been ringing for some time, with a statement last month confirming that the club needs outside investment to survive. Two prospective buyers lay waiting in the wing, and Dale will hope that they can solve these issues; a potential points deduction for entering administration would be disastrous.

Top scorer is former Notts County man Kairo Mitchell with 12 in 29 games, and Dale have two other attackers; 39 year old club legend Ian Henderson and tricky winger Tyrese Sinclair, who have 11 and 10 goals respectively. 18-year-old centre back George Nevett has plenty of admirers at a higher level, and he’s been ever present at the heart of the Dale defence.

Last Time Out
The only previous meeting between these sides saw Woking win 3-2 at the Laithwaite in August, as a Scott Cuthbert goal, followed by a Reece Grego-Cox double sealed the points.

Around the Ground
Woking fans will be allocated Block U of the Pearl Street Stand, which is fully seated.

Away supporters will be able to purchase tickets online here or on the gate with no extra charge.

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adult £22
Junior (U14) £5
Senior (65+) £17
Young Person (U22) £10

The Cards Trust are running a coach, more information is available here

Match Report | Cards controversially beaten by Dale late on

William Bewsey
9:46pm, Tue 12th Mar 2024
Rochdale 2-1 Woking
Vanarama National League
12th March 2024

Michael Doyle made two changes to the side victorious at Altrincham on the weekend, with both enforced through injury. Goalscorer Ricky Korboa and Manny Oyeleke made way for Dennon Lewis and Rohan Ince, with the bench staying the same as it was at Alty.

Woking kicked the game off towards the Pearl Street End housing the travelling contingent, and made a quick start. A powerful strike from Jermaine Anderson from the edge of the box had to be parried away by Tiernan Brooks for a corner with just four minutes gone. Rochdale’s first attack ended with Cian Hayes’ shot flying just wide of the bottom corner, after the winger had sprinted down the right hand side and towards goal.

A superb ball towards the back post from Curtis Edwards was met by Josh Casey, but was met almost too well in the end, as the left back skied his strike over the bar. A big mistake from Ethan Ebanks-Landell after a quarter of an hour saw him caught on the edge of his own box by Charley Kendall, who smashed the ball past Brooks to give the Cards a deserved lead.

After 35 minutes, excellent play from Casey and Kendall saw the ball fall to Ince on the edge of the box, but his curling shot flew just wide of the far corner. But a simply sublime strike from Cian Hayes followed on 38 minutes. He had no right to drive down the wing before curling the ball into the far corner, giving Jaaskelainen no chance.

The sides went into the break level after Woking had looked relatively comfortable at 1-0 up. But Hayes’ goal appeared to give Dale a lift towards the end of the half.

Half-time: Rochdale 1-1 Woking

It took until the 64th minute for any notable second half action, when Kendall and Anderson linked up well, with the latter blazing over the bar. Then came a contentious decision when a full blooded tackle from Kelly-Evans on Hayes after 68 minutes led to the winger staying down, and the referee decided it was worth a sending off.

After Alfie Pavey’s perfectly timed challenge led to a free kick for Dale, another one followed after a similar challenge. Devante Rodney blasted the ball past Jaaskelainen to give the home side the lead in the 88th minute. Ian Henderson was sent off for an altercation following the goal.

Woking had the ball in the net with 93 gone, but the late flag gave Rochdale some relief, causing more controversy. Full time followed after a brief interruption from a pitch invader, with the Cards unfortunate to take nothing from the game. Next up, the visit of Barnet on Saturday.


Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey, Timi Odusina, Jermaine Anderson (Osew 88’), Rohan Ince (Smith 93’), Scott Cuthbert, Dennon Lewis (Pavey 61’), Curtis Edwards, Charley Kendall, Dion Kelly-Evans

Unused subs: Wilkinson, Osew, Smith, Berkoe

Bookings: Odusina 58’, Casey 72’, Pavey 87’

Sent off: Kelly-Evans 66’

Goals: Kendall 15’

Rochdale: Tiernan Brooks, Kyron Gordon, Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Kairo Mitchell, Devante Rodney (Keohane90’) , George Nevett, Cian Hayes (Sassi 90’), Harvey Gilmour, Finlay Armstrong, Sam Mather (Henderson 72’)

Unused subs: Clayton, Uchegbulam, Keohane, Sassi

Bookings: Gilmour 78’

Sent off: Henderson 88’

Goals: Hayes 38’, Rodney 88’
Rochdale LINEUP
1Tiernan Brooks
2Kyron Gordon
23Finlay Armstrong
6Ethan Ebanks-Landell
15George Nevett
4Ryan East
20Harvey Gilmour
18Cian Hayes ('90)
25Sam Mather ('73)
9Kairo Mitchell
10Devante Rodney ('90)
BENCH
19Dan Sassi ('90)
8Adam Clayton
13Jimmy Keohane ('90)
11Jesurun Uchegbulam
40Ian Henderson ('73)
WOKING LINEUP
22Will Jaaskelainen
2Dan Moss
3Josh Casey
21Timi Odusina
4Scott Cuthbert
27Dion Kelly-Evans
32Curtis Edwards
24Rohan Ince ('90)
23Jermaine Anderson ('90)
33Charley Kendall
11Dennon Lewis ('61)
BENCH
6Luke Wilkinson
38Kevin Berkoe
30Josh Smith ('90)
37Paul Osew ('90)
29Alfie Pavey ('61)

Rochdale 2-1 Woking | Michael Doyle Interview

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