Cards aiming for return to form in the FA Trophy

Bromley vs Woking
Buildbase FA Trophy
Tuesday 19th January 2021

Woking will be aiming for a first win in four when they travel to Bromley on Tuesday evening for the next round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

The Cards have only won one game in the competition in the last five years – the 2-1 victory over Dover Athletic a month ago – and will be aiming for a first extended run in the competition since a quarter-final defeat to Grimsby Town in 2016. The three-time winners will be hoping that a two-and-a-half week break since their last league outing, a 1-0 home defeat by local rivals Aldershot Town, will have helped freshen up a stretched squad which has recently lost loanees Saul Shotton and Josh Davison, who have returned to West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic, respectively.

Bromley have won their last four home games against Woking, who haven’t won at Hayes Lane since September 2011, when a brace from Moses Ademola and goals from Wayne Gray and Elvis Hammond sent the Cards top of National League South. They currently sit tenth in the National League with 22 points from 14 games, having recorded six wins and four draws, and scoring 23 goals. The Ravens haven’t played since before Christmas, when they defeated Hemel Hempstead Town 2-0 in the last round of the Trophy. Their last league outing also ended in victory when they won 1-0 away to Solihull Moors. That followed successive home defeats against Stockport County and Yeovil Town.

Woking – Team News

Dowse will be hoping that he’ll have completed at least one new signing ahead of the Bromley game following the departure of Josh Davison. Ben Gerring is also expected to make his first appearance of the season for the Cards after recovering from his pre-season injury and returning from his one-month loan spell at National League South side Oxford City. He has now served his three-match suspension.

Bromley – The Boss

The Lilywhites have been coached by Neil Smith since 2016, having previously served as the club’s assistant manager since 2011, meaning he’s rapidly approaching 10 years at the club. Smith will, of course, be well known to Woking fans having made 142 appearances for the Cards between 2002 and 2007, many as captain, and briefly serving as the club’s interim manager at the end of his spell.

One to Watch

Striker Michael Cheek has already scored nine goals this season. The 29-year-old is one of non-league football’s most dangerous frontmen, having also been a regular scorer for Braintree Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Ebbsfleet United before joining Bromley in 2019. He scored 15 goals last season and is already well on his way to matching that tally this campaign.

Last Time Out

Woking 2-1 Bromley – National League (26th November 2020)

The Cards came from behind to claim all three points at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Luke Coulson gave Bromley the lead after 15 minutes, but Dave Tarpey equalised two minutes before half-time, and Jake Hyde grabbed the winner 15 minutes from time. Jamar Loza was awarded man-of-the-match after playing a key role in setting up both goals.

Next Up

The Cards host Maidenhead United on Saturday, that’s followed by another trip to Bromley the following Tuesday evening, as the two teams meet in National League action.